Title: December 20, 2007 Episode Chapter: 1 of 1 Rating: PG Summary: We continue where the episode left off! Characters: It's up to the authors. Genre: Warnings: Disclaimer: This site is no way associated with "As the World Turns", CBS, P&G, or Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann. This is not for profit. No copyright infringement is intended. Authors submit and write their own work.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ADD TO THIS FAN FICTION PIECE! PLEASE JOIN US!

Hi! JayJ and Bruce here! JayJ is going to start us off and we hope that a lot of you will participate. Since this is the first time we are doing this, let’s expect to have to work out some “bugs”. Here a few things you should do when writing your story:

Please - do not start a new page for your story, just add to this one!

1. Please put your screen name at the beginning and end of your part of the story.

2. When you are ready to write, please use “Easy Edit” and put your screen name and a little note that you will be writing this part of the story. For example my place saver may look like: “JayJ will start here”. Then save it so no one else will pick up where the last part ended. When you are ready to post your part, delete your place saver, place your screen name at the beginning and end of the story and using “Easy Edit”, add your part and save it.

3. If you can’t use Easy Edit, let us know where you want to start and we will hold the place.

4. Have fun! You can write it as a story, as a script or both. Just remember, keep it based on Luke and Noah and only current ATWT characters can be used. Remember, in this area its daytime TV “PG”! Let's get going!

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JayJ. Luke slowly made his way up the stairs to his bedroom. He sat on the bed and picked up the card Noah had given and read it again and again. This was the happiest day of his life. Holden knocked on the bedroom door and stuck his head in. “Need help getting ready for bed”, he asked Luke. “No”, Luke replied, “I can do it”. Holden smiled and said, “I love you, son”. Luke nodded and said “I love you too, Dad”. Holden closed the door and walked down the hall to his bedroom.

Once Luke was ready for bed he read the card three more times, stood it on the night stand, turned out the light and went to bed. He got up four times during the night. Each time he would turn on the light and read the card that Noah had given him.

It was just getting light out when Luke woke up. He got himself up to the edge of the bed and using his cane carefully stood up. Wanting to look nice for Noah, he stopped in the bathroom and flattened his hair down and brushed his teeth. Carefully he made his way down the stairs to the living room to see “his Noah”. “Today”, he thought to himself, “Is going to be a great day”. When he walked into the living room Noah was not there. The blanket and pillows were folded neatly and stacked on the couch. He looked around and quietly called Noah’s name out. He got no answer. He walked out onto the porch and opened the door and looked out onto the driveway. Noah’s truck was gone. JayJ.

Nukelover.
Luke stood there and stared. His legs began to feel weak and he sat on the chair on the porch. "I did it again." He said to himself. "Me and my big mouth. Noah gave me a card and he wrote that he loved me, but I had to push it further than that. How could I have been so stupid?"

Just then he heard the screen door open. He looked up. "Good morning Luke." Noah said with a big smile on his face.

Luke stared at him for a moment and then got up and hugged him. "Noah. You came back."

Noah looked at Luke. "Yeah, I'm staying here remember."

Luke looked out at Noah's truck. "I woke up and you were gone. Where did you go?"

Noah shrugged. "After you left, I laid on the sofa and tried to sleep, but all I could do was think of you and what we talked about. I kept thinking of you upstairs in your bed. I just couldn't sleep. I didn't want to wake anyone else up, so I went for a drive."

Luke nodded. "A drive?"

Noah smiled. "Yeah, where did you think that I went?"

Luke shook his head. "Never mind."
Nukelover


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"It's just that... Yesterday was pretty big, wasn't it? And... I was afraid that you had second thoughts... That I put too much pressure on you."

Noah smiled and touched Luke's cheek. "Second thoughts about what? About you? Luke, it's impossible. What I feel about you... I never felt that for anybody. It's just very hard for me to say it. But I want you to know this: you're the most important person in my life. I couldn't... I couldn't live without you."

A tear fell down Luke's cheek. Noah wiped it with his thumb. "Sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry."

"I'm not sad, Noah. I'm so incredibly happy." Luke wrapped his arms around the other young man's torso and hugged him. And there they remained for several minutes, hugging each other, Luke inhaling Noah's perfume, Noah caressing Luke's blond hair. Nothing else mattered.

They suddenly heard Faith and Natalie shouting upstairs, obviously very eager to unwrap the presents. Luke laughed. "I think it's time to open the gifts, Noah."

Faith ran down the stairs and entered the kitchen. "Hi, guys! Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas, Faith!" Luke and Noah both said. Luke noticed that his younger sister wasn't there. "Where is Natalie?"

"She's still upstairs, she's waking Dad and Grandma up."
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auntiet822

No sooner had Faith spoken the words when they heard footsteps bounding down the stairs. The door opened to the kitchen to reveal the younger Snyder sister.

“Merry Christmas” Natalie shouted as she jumped down the last couple of steps into the kitchen.

“Where are Dad and Grandma?” Faith asked.

“Grandma’s getting dressed and Dad is getting Ethan.”

“Okay girls, you two go into the parlor see how much Santa brought us all and Noah and I will get the coffee started and get things ready for Gram to make breakfast. Remember, you can’t open anything until everyone is there.”

The girls ran off and Luke turned to start the coffee. It was only moment before he felt Noah come up behind him and wrap his arms around him.

“What do you need me to do?” he asked.

Luke turned in Noah’s arms, “A Christmas kiss might be nice.”

Noah didn’t need to be asked twice, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against Luke’s. It was meant to be a simple kiss, but, as always were quickly lost in the passion and momentarily forgot where they were.

The door opened from the stairs and the boys jumped apart. Not again, Luke thought as he remembered his father coming down last night. He remembered being glad it wasn’t his grandmother. His face flushed hot as he turned around and saw that this time, it was Emma.
auntiet


HoldenFan.

Emma walked up to the boys and kissed each of them on the cheek and said “I’ll get breakfast ready”. Luke and Noah looked at each other and grinned. “I am going to get cleaned up before breakfast” Luke said and slowly made his way upstairs.

Noah sat at the kitchen table talking to Emma. “I am sorry about that, Mrs. Snyder”, Noah apologized. “Oh, Noah, there is nothing to be sorry about”, she said. “I expect two people in love to kiss”. Noah smiled.

The entire clan began to gather at the table and Holden helped Emma bring the food over. Holden walked up to Noah and put his hand on his shoulder and said, “Noah, I can’t tell you how nice it is having you here”. Noah looked at Holden, began to say something, but just smiled. Breakfast was in full swing when the phone rang and Holden stood up to answer it. All of a sudden his attention turned directly to Noah and he said to the person on the phone, “Yes, Noah is right here, hold on”. He said “Noah, it’s your Aunt from Tennessee”. Noah almost choked on the pancake he was swallowing, had a sip of coffee and stood up to answer the phone.

HoldenFan

JusticeGH

“He—hello?”

“Noah? This is your mother’s sister, Ruth Mason. I hope I’m not bothering you.”

“Um, no…of course not.” Everything about family was so painful that he hadn’t dared reach out to his aunt. Last night, lying on the couch, thinking about Luke, and the Snyders' warm welcome, he had thought it might be time to reconsider. Now this…it was almost too much.

“I received the package you sent. I’m still figuring out what it all means.”

“I’m sure this has all been a lot to take in. But it’s the holidays, and I wanted you to know that you don’t need to be alone.”

It stung to hear that word…alone. It had been all he had felt, but the past few weeks that loneliness had calmed, and the past two days, the word hadn’t crossed his mind.

“I appreciate you thinking of me. But I’m still not ready to look back…I need to focus on what’s next. I hope you understand. Thanks for reaching out, but I need to go.”

“Noah…I understand this is hard, but I’m hoping…”

Emotion was getting the best of Noah, something he didn’t handle well. “Maybe I’ll be ready to know you better at some point, but right now…"

Luke had watched Noah with concern. The past day had been so emotional for them, and Luke noticed a tremble in Noah’s hand. Just as he was about to hang up, Noah felt Luke’s hand on his shoulder, and Luke whispered in his ear...
JusticeGH

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"Tell her we'll come to see her after New Year's. It'll be fine--I'll be with you."

Noah looked at Luke and saw that his boyfriend was serious. He smiled.

"Noah, are you there?" Ruth had grown concerned by her nephew's silence.

"I'm here, Aunt Ruth," Noah said, reveling in acknowledging the relationship he shared with the woman on the other end of the line. "Would it be OK if my...boyfriend...and I came to visit you in Memphis after New Year's? We don't start school again until after Martin Luther King day."

"Noah, that would be lovely. I can't wait to meet you--and him. Have a wonderful holiday and we'll talk next week to arrange the details."

"Merry Christmas, Aunt Ruth," Noah said, then hung up the phone. Turning to Luke, he said, "Thank you. Knowing you'll be with me makes the thought of meeting my aunt...well, not quite as frightening."

"I'll always be there for you when you need me," Luke replied. "After all you've done for me the last few months, I owe you that. And besides, a road trip could be fun for us!"

Noah grinned. He looked around; the rest of the family had moved into the parlor to give him privacy while he was on the phone. Pulling Luke close, he said, "If you think I'm going to wait until next year to get you alone..."

Luke nodded, and a flash went through his eyes; Noah could see that he wanted to pick up where they had left off last night. "Not here, Luke," he said, and gave his boyfriend a quick peck on the lips. Luke held him there, and their lips lingered together.

Finally letting Noah go, Luke said, "Well, we'd best join the family in the parlor..."

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They heard a knock on the door. Lily was there.

Using his cane, Luke walked to the door to greet his mother. "Hi, mom! Merry Christmas!"
Lily kissed her son on the cheek. "Merry Christmas, honey! Merry Christmas, Noah!"
Noah smiled. "Merry Christmas, Mrs. Snyder."
"Are you two alone? Where is everybody?"
"Dad, Grandma and the girls are in the parlor."
"Great!" Lily seemed a bit anxious. "I... I just hope it's okay that I'm here. Your dad and I had agreed to spend Christmas eve together, but we didn't talk about this morning."
"Oh, come on, Mom! You two have to grow up already! I'm sure you guys don't even remember why you broke up in the first place!"
Lily didn't expect such an answer. "I don't want to talk about this here and now, Luke. I'll join the others in the parlor."
Luke touched his mother's arm. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to attack you like that."
"I know, Luke."
Lily left the kitchen to join the others in the parlor.

Noah put his hand on his boyfriend's shoulder. "Luke... What do you think your parents will say about our road trip to Memphis? I mean... Your grandmother doesn't even want me to enter your bedroom!"
"She has her rules here, but what we do outside of the farm is none of her business. And my parents... I think my mom will accept, but I have doubts about my dad. I know I can make it, but he'll be worried about the fact that I just started to walk again."
"And, hum... won't they be worried about us... being together... alone?"
Luke laughed and kissed Noah's cheek. "Noah, after averything that happened, it would be pretty silly of them to freak out about something like that! Now let's go to the parlor, I'm sure the girls will want to open the gifts before breakfast."
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Nukelover
All the presents had been opened and breakfast was done. Grandma Emma was in the kitchen starting her preparation for dinner, Holden had gone to put Ethan down for a nap and the girls were occupied with their presents. Luke and Noah walked into the kitchen. "Do you need any help with anything Mrs. Snyder?" Noah asked.

Emma turned to the boys. "At this point you would probably just get in my way. Why don't you boys just relax."

Luke turned to Noah. "You did promise me a walk down to the pond."

Noah looked at Luke. "Are you sure you are up to it? We've had a pretty busy morning and I wouldn't want to get in trouble with you dad."

Luke shook his head. "I told you yesterday, I'm fine. I wish everyone would stop fussing over me."

Noah went to get their coats. "Okay, but we won't stay out long."

Luke walked over and Noah helped him on with his coat. "I promise, I will let you know if I start to feel tired.

The boys headed to the pond. Luke grabbed a hold of Noah's arm for a little more stability. "You don't mind do you?"

Noah looked at Luke and put his hand on top of his. "Of course not."

Noah walked slowly so that Luke wouldn't have any trouble keeping up. They finally made it to the pond. Noah took his arm from around Luke. He had brought a blanket with him so that Luke could rest before their walk back. He laid it down and Luke sat down. "I'm sure glad to get away from the house. I felt like everyone was watching our every move."

Noah sat down next to Luke and put his arms around him. "Now that we are alone, what do you want to do?"
Nukelover

JusticeGH
“I thought you’d never ask…”, Luke said. He leaned against Noah and cupped his boyfriend’s cheek in his hand, drawing him close for a kiss.

The two had talked before about how they could have hours alone working on homework or physical therapy, but as soon as they wanted to get closer, someone inevitably interrupted. Finally, with Luke out of his chair, they found privacy, and took full advantage, kissing along the edge of Snyder pond, oblivious to the winter chill.

Noah finally broke away from Luke, sensing a hint of stern resistance on Luke’s part as he did.

“Luke…when your grandma was hesitant to have me stay for Christmas…you figured and she as much as said that it was because she wasn’t comfortable with us ‘being together’, at least not under her roof. Your injuries made it all irrelevant for so long…and I didn’t want to bring it up because I didn’t want you to feel pressured about it. Now that you’re feeling better--what about you? Are you comfortable with us…’being together’?

“Comfortable? Yeah…I’m…comfortable with it. I mean, I can’t say it doesn’t make me nervous. But I think we’ve made it pretty clear to one another over the last few months that no matter what, we’ll care for one another and protect one another. And when the time comes to take that next step, I don’t see why that part of our relationship would be any different. What about you, Noah...”

JusticeGH

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Noah took both of Luke's hands in his and rubbed them together; the warmth this generated flowed into both of them. "Luke, I think the time to take that next step is here. And I know we're going to Memphis together..."

Luke noticed Noah's hesitation. "It's OK, Noah. What?"

Noah gulped, but continued. "But, well...I don't want our first time to be in some roadside motel. I want it to be special. Maybe...New Year's?"

Luke grinned. "You just can't wait, can you?"

Noah frowned. "You know that's not true!" Noah said, thinking back on the months he had helped Luke with his therapy, wanting nothing more than to have his way with him in the Snyder kitchen. "But..." He reached for Luke, pulling him close. "Just because I'm capable of waiting doesn't mean I want to. I want to hold you, Luke, and feel your body pressed against mine. I want you to feel how much I love you."

As soon as the words left Noah's lips, Luke pulled back. "How much you what?" he asked. Noah was shocked at first, wondering what was wrong; then his face blanched as he realized what he had just said. "How much I...I...love you," he repeated, slightly stunned at how easy it suddenly was.

Luke smiled like a Cheshire cat. "I knew you could say it--you just needed the right motivation," he said, half-teasing, as he pulled Noah back toward him. "And I'm ready. Tonight, tomorrow, New Year's Eve--take me, Noah Mayer. I'm yours."

Noah grinned, squeezing his boyfriend tight. "Well, Luke Snyder, I'd like to take you up on that offer right here, but I think we might both get frostbitten. What do you say we go back to the farm for now and plan our date for somewhere a little bit warmer?"

Noah stood up and held out his arms, and Luke rose, still a bit unsteady, and fell back into Noah's embrace. "I love you, Noah," Luke said, holding him close. "And I love you, Luke," Noah replied, his voice now steady and sure though his stomach still had butterflies in it.

They walked back to the farm quietly, huddled close together. Both were smiling, excited for what would come next--and grateful for what they had already found in each other.

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