Title: Planning a Lifetime Ch. 9 Rating: R Summary: Sequel to "A New Life." Will Luke and Noah make it to the altar and finally say I do? Characters: Luke, Noah, Adam, Joey, Jack, Lily, Holden, Lucinda, Hope, Emma, Ameera Genre: Drama, Angst, Romance Warnings: Mpreg implied 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.

They didn't know what they had been expecting, but this definitely was not it. This had been much worse than they ever expected. The building itself was run down, paint chipping, dirty curtains hanging up in the windows. Noah had thought he saw a rat scamper around a trash can, but he didn't want to think about it.

A sign hung next to the office door advertising rooms rented by the hour and Luke shuddered thinking of what kind of people must file in and out of this place.

"There it is," Officer Parks pointed to the door with 142 written in gold, tacky paint as he parked.

Luke practically bounded out of the car once it had stopped and ran to the door, knocking frantically, "Adam, it's poppy and dad, open the door!"

When nothing happened, Noah stepped up, "Adam open this door or we will open it for you!"

Nothing but silence ensued.

Luke whipped around, turning to face Officer Parks, "Well? Do something?"

"I can't," Officer Parks admitted, "I don't have a search warrant."

"What?!" Noah exclaimed.

Jack stepped forward between them," I don't have jurisdiction in this city and I don't f'ucking care!" He took a running start and plowed right into the door, which gave way easily.

"Adam?!" Luke called out as he stepped over the debris.

"Joey?" Noah asked, checking the small bathroom.

Officer Parks sighed, "It's clear."

"But they are staying here," Luke held up Adam's backpack.

"Are you sure?" The officer asked.

"Yes," Noah nodded, picking up Adam's overnight bag and shuffling through, "These are his clothes."

"Where are they?" Luke asked no one in particular.

"We'll find them," Officer Parks assured him, "Why don't you two stay here in case they come back. I'll have my guys check out the neighborhoods and shops around here."

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"That's impossible!" Adam yelled at Ameera, "You're still married to my dad."

Ameera shook her head, "Look, why don't we go inside?"

"I want answers!" Adam insisted.

Joey nodded at Ameera, "Come on, Atti, let's go inside."

Begrudgingly, Adam followed her into the house, "Okay, we're inside. Now answer me."

"Can I call your dad?" Ameera asked, pointing them in the direction of the couch, "Let him know you're okay?"

"No!" Adam yelled.

Joey sighed, "Ms. Aziz, we've come a long way just to talk to you."

"I can promise you that I don't know what you're talking about," Ameera slowly sat down across from them.

"According to the clerk you and Mr. Mayer are still married," Joey explained.

Ameera shook her head, "I don't understand. I filled the annulment papers the day I left for L.A."

"Liar," Adam shot back.

"I'm not lying. Yes, I loved your father for helping me when I needed him. He took care of me, but I meant what I said to him. I did have the marriage annulled," She picked up a photograph from the side table, "This is me and my husband, Michael."

"But how can you be married to two people at once?" Joey asked in confusion.

"I'm not," Ameera said simply, "My marriage to Michael is completely legal."

"But...but why would the clerk's office say that?" Adam asked softly.

Ameera shrugged, "I don't know, but I have a copy of the annulment papers and my marriage certificate."

"But-" Adam began.

"I'll take care of it," Ameera nodded.

"Okay," Adam nodded, all the fight seemed to drain out of him.

"Tell me how Noah is. Is he still with Luke?"

"Yeah," Joey answered when he realized Adam wasn't going to, "They want to get married since it's legal in Illinois now."

"That's great," Ameera said sincerely, "Are you their only child?"

Adam shook his head, "No...I have a baby brother and a sister."

"That's wonderful," Ameera smiled, "I'm really happy for your dad."

Adam shrugged, "Can we cut out the pleasantries? I just...I don't understand why it had to be my dad? Why you had to marry my dad!"

"Adam," Joey whispered.

"It's okay," Ameera nodded, "I knew your grandfather in Iraq."

"My grandfather?" Adam frowned, "Holden?"

Ameera shook her head, "No. Noah's father."

"You did?" Adam asked. Growing up, he knew that no one ever talked about his other grandfather. His dad never mentioned him and he couldn't ever remember meeting the man.

"Yes," Ameera confirmed, "He took care of me and my mother, but things happened and I had to come to America."

"And you went looking for Noah?" Joey questioned.

Ameera nodded, "Yes. I needed help and Noah was willing to help me stay in the country. Even if it meant marrying me."

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The screen door banged against the door frame.

"Lucinda," Emma stated watching the woman walk into the kitchen.

"Is Lily here?" Lucinda asked, "I went to the house but no one was there."

"Yes. Hope wanted to stay and spend the night with Eliza, so Holden and Lily ended up staying with Jarod," Emma answered.

"Mother?" Lily came into the kitchen with Jarod in her arms.

Lucinda smiled at her great grandson before turning to her daughter, "Have you heard from Jack or Luke and Noah yet?"

"No," Lily sighed, taking the bottle that Emma handed her and beginning to feed the baby.

"Well, then what are we waiting for?" Lucinda asked impatiently.

"We're waiting for Luke and Noah to do this their way," Holden appeared in the doorway.

Lucinda shook her head, "Their way? Holden, this is your grandson we're talking about."

"I realize that Lucinda, but it's Luke and Noah's son," Holden stated.

"Yes, but we are there family. They need us," Lucinda argued.

Lily sighed and handed Jarod to Emma, "Mother, maybe Holden is right."

"Right? Oh no dear, he is not right," Lucinda said with authority.

"Mother, please!" Lily begged.

Lucinda threw her hands up, "Fine, fine. But if my great grandson isn't safe in Luke's arms by tomorrow morning, I am going to personally fly to California myself."

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Mr. Perry sat at his desk. It had been a long day and all he had wanted to do was go home, but he still had paperwork that needed attention. Regardless if people were approved for a marriage license or denied, their paperwork still needed to be filed accordingly.

"Noah Mayer," He muttered to himself as he typed on his computer, looking at the paperwork. He clicked on Noah's name once again on his computer.

"Denied," He continued to talk to himself. He clicked onto the program and started to put Noah's information in and frowned.

With a sigh, he rubbed his eyes and started over, but got the same message.

"Jill, can you come in here?" Mr. Perry called and two minutes later a young woman appeared at his door.

"Yes, Mr. Perry?"

Mr. Perry handed her Noah's paperwork, "For some reason this program is not letting me input his information, can you check to make sure everything is correct."

"Yes, sir," She nodded and hurried off.

It took all of ten minutes for her to return, "Mr. Perry, I don't understand what's wrong. Why they weren't approved."

"Let me see," He took the file back from her and looked it over, "Mr. Mayer is currently married to an Ameera Ali Aziz."

"Sir?" She asked in confusion, "According to the files, that marriage was annulled."

"What?!"

"Yes, sir," She nodded.

"That's impossible. They filed a few days ago and I remember -"

Jill held up her hand, "Sir, I think you should check the file again."

"Fine," Mr. Perry sighed and did as she suggested, "What? I still don't see anything."

"Right there," Jill pointed to the bottom of the page, "It says right there."

"Oh my God," Mr. Perry felt frozen, realizing his mistake.

"Would you like me to call them?" Jill asked.

Mr. Perry shook his head, "No. I'll...I'll do it."

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It had taken a while, but Ameera had finally convinced Adam and Joey to let her drive them back to their motel.

"Are you sure you want to stay here?" Ameera asked as she drew nearer to the motel.

"Yeah," Joey nodded.

Ameera nodded.

"You said after you dropped us off that you'd go and make a copy of the annulment papers and bring them back?" Adam asked.

"Yes," Ameera agreed, pulling into the motel parking lot.

Joey frowned when they drew nearer to the room. There were three men standing outside and their room door was wide open, "Atti, isn't that...isn't that your father?"

"What?!" Adam exclaimed looking over, "Sh'it! How'd they find us?!"

"I don't know," Joey said cautiously as he opened his car door.

"Oh my God!" Luke exclaimed seeing both boys.

"Uh...hi," Adam said sheepishly right before he was swept up in Luke's arms.

"I love you, I love you, I love you," Luke chanted into his son's hair.

"Mr. M," Joey said tentatively before he too was swept up, only into Noah's arms.

"We're so glad that you too are alright," Noah whispered, "We've been so worried."

Joey nodded against Noah's shoulder, "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too," Adam's voice was muffled by the Luke's t-shirt.

Luke pulled back for a second to look into his son's face before pulling him back and crushing him to his chest, "Don't you ever, ever do something like this again. Don't you ever."

"We didn't mean to worry you," Joey said softly.

Noah finally let the boy go before taking Adam into his arms while Luke embraced Joey.

"I'm sorry dad," Adam whispered, "But look," He pointed to Ameera.

For the first time, Noah looked up finally to see Ameera standing next to her car, a slight smile on her face.

"Ameera?" He asked in surprise.

Ameera nodded, "Hello Noah."

"What...how..." He stuttered.

"You have a persistent son. He managed to find me," Ameera half laughed.

Noah nodded.

"He explained to me about why he wanted to find me. About the annulment," She carried on.

"Why didn't you get the marriage annulled, Ameera?" Noah asked to the point.

Ameera looked Noah in the eyes, "I did."

"Ameera," Noah sighed.

"We just want you to have it annulled, that's all," Luke added.

"I know you do, but I already had it annulled," Ameera insisted, "Look," She handed them her copy of the annulment papers.

Noah scrunched his forehead together, "I don't understand. Are you sure these got filed?"

"Yes, I filed them myself," She promised.

"Well then why...I don't..." Noah said in disbelief.

Ameera gently touched Noah's arm, "I wouldn't do that to you Noah. You were so good to me."

"But the city clerk's office said you two were still married," Luke stepped up, taking his place at Noah's side.

"I don't know," Ameera shook her head, "But the annulment is definitely real."

"How do you know?" Luke asked.

Ameera held up her hand, "I'm married."

"You are?" Noah knew he sounded surprised.

"Yes. His name is Michael and he's a wonderful man."

Luke pushed his hair away from his eyes, "But the list...it said you're last name was still Aziz."

"It is," She agreed, "I didn't want to change my last name. In my country, there is no one left from my family and I am proud of my last name and who I am."

Noah's cell phone ringing caught them all off guard. He looked at Luke before pulling his phone out of his pocket, "Hello?"

"Yes, is this Noah Mayer?"

"Yes," Noah nodded.

"Noah, this is Mr. Perry from the city clerk's office."

Noah nodded again, and before he even had a chance to speak, Mr. Perry started again.

"You filed for a marriage license a few days ago and were denied."

"I'm aware of that," Noah shot back.

Mr. Perry cleared his throat, "It seems there may have been a problem with our system. As it turns out your marriage to Ms. Ameera Ali Aziz was annulled and the city can grant you a license after all."

"What?!" Noah exclaimed, "You have no clue what you have put my family through over a...a problem with your system?!"

"I understand that you are upset-"

"Oh, I assure you that you don't understand," Noah seethed. All the frustration, anger, hurt, and confusion breaking the surface.

"We will happily issue you the marriage certificate and waive the fee," Mr. Perry explained.

"Oh! That's big of you!" Noah rolled his eyes and without another word hung up.

"What?" Luke asked in concern.

Noah let out a hysterical laugh, "Looks like I'm not married after all. It was all just a f'ucking computer glitch."

"What?!" Luke exclaimed.

"Yup," Noah continued to laugh, "All just a misunderstanding."

Luke didn't know what to say. He felt like he had been punched in the stomach and his world had collapsed around him. Everything they had dealt with could have been avoided. Everything they went through, every emotion, every fear, everything! All because of a computer error!

"God," Noah's laugh subsided and half drained, "Let's go home now," He said weakly.

Luke nodded, still in shock.

"I'm so sorry, Noah," Ameera apologized.

"Thank you, for bringing them back here," Noah said sincerely, "I really do hope you're happy, Ameera."

"And you two," She nodded, getting back into her car.

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"Thank you boys for telling me how you got out here," Jack told Joey and Adam.

"Yeah," Adam looked down at the table, "Jack?"

Jack nodded, "Yes?"

"Do you...do you think I'm in a lot of trouble with my parents?" Adam asked sheepishly.

"What do you think kiddo?" Jack laughed.

"Oh man," Adam sighed.

Jack chuckled some more, "The most important thing to your parents is that you guys are safe and with them."

"I know," Adam let out another sigh.

"You'll be fine," Jack assured him.

"Hey, you guys all set?" Luke asked entering the hotel room. They had quickly moved Adam and Joey's stuff out of the motel and brought them to the hotel where Luke, Noah and Jack were staying.

"Yup," Jack nodded, "I'll leave you guys alone. Let me know if you need anything."

"Thanks Jack," Noah entered behind Luke.

Luke sat down in the seat that Jack had vacated and Noah sat down across from his boyfriend.

"I guess we're going to be punished," Adam tried to keep his voice light.

Noah nodded, "Yup."

"There's no way we could just pretend that this didn't happen," Adam suggested.

"Nope," Noah shook his head.

"Not a chance," Luke added.

"But not me, right?" Joey joked.

Luke shook his head, "You're part of this family and so you both will be punished."

The boys nodded and Joey felt a sense of belonging come over him. He had lived with the Snyder-Mayers for a while, but never really felt like he was part of them; always feeling like the outsider. But to be called one of the family...it was really important to him.

"What're you going to do?" Trepidation laced Adam's voice.

"We haven't decided yet, but we will be sure to let you know," Luke smiled, "Now, off to bed you two," Luke pointed to the door that connected their room with the boy’s room, "And don't you dare lock the enjoining room door."

"Yes poppy," Adam nodded.

"Okay," Luke laughed and got up, following the boys to the door. He pulled Adam into a tight hug, "I'm so glad to have you back safe and sound. We love you so much."

"I love you guys too," Adam pulled away from Luke only to be enveloped by Noah.

"You boys get a good night sleep," Luke pulled Joey to him for a second, "We missed you so much."

"We missed you too," Adam promised, shutting the door.

Once they were certain that the boys were sleeping, or at least pretending to sleep, Luke took Noah's hand into his, leading him to the bed.

"I should call my mom," Luke stated.

Noah nodded, "Yeah, she's probably worried."

"Right," Luke settled into bed, grabbing his cell phone off the night stand. He smiled when he felt Noah curl up next to him, resting his head on Luke's chest.

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"This is just...it's fantastic honey," Lily smiled, "I'm so relieved. I've had to hold your grandmother Lucinda back from flying out there herself. Anyways, I know you guys are probably exhausted, so I'll let you go. This is really great news about the boys and about Noah's marriage. I love you sweetie."

"What was that all about?" Holden rolled over in bed to face his wife. They had been awaken by Lily's cell phone ringing, and it was obvious Luke had forgotten about the time change but with news Lily was just given that didn't matter.

Lily smiled even brighter, "They have Adam and Joey back safe and sound."

"That's great news," Holden agreed.

"And the Noah's marriage to Ameera was annulled after all. There was some sort of mistake in the city clerk's office, but the boys can get married now," She relayed.

"That's even better," Holden smiled, "See, I told you if we just let them handle it, it would all work out."

Lily smirked, "You think you're so smart.

"It's because I am," Holden laughed.

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"Okay, I simply cannot wait another day," Lucinda exclaimed walking into the farm.

"You won't have to," Holden commented.

Lucinda shook her head, "Do not try and talk me out of this. I am going to California and I'm going to bring my great grandson home today."

"You won't need to mother," Lily laughed, "Luke and Noah found Adam and Joey last night. Their fine and safe."

"Oh thank God!" Lucinda exclaimed, "I knew if we just gave those boys some time, it would all work out."

Holden chuckled, "Right Lucinda."

"So what is to become of this marriage deal with that Iraqi girl?" Lucinda inquired.

Lily sat down next to Holden, "Turns out that it was all just some sort of computer error at the city clerk's office and Luke and Noah can go ahead and get married."
"Daddy and poppy can get married?" Hope asked coming down the farmhouse stairs.

"That's right, sweetie," Lily smiled at her granddaughter.

"So they're coming home?"

Lily nodded, "Yes, you're parents will be back later today."

"I'm going to go tell Eliza!" Hope screamed in joy, running back up the stairs.

"Now that everything is going back to normal, why don't we help them plan the wedding?" Emma asked, bringing in some fresh vegetables she had picked from her garden.

"You heard that mama?" Holden asked.

Emma nodded, "I did and I think it's wonderful that the boys are safe and sound, but with all this going on, Luke and Noah cannot possibly have any time or desire to plan a wedding."

"Emma is right. I can have arrangements made and we can-"

"Have it here. At the farm," Lily interrupted her mother, "That's a great idea."

"Do you think they'll want that?" Holden asked, feeling like a broken record, asking the same question.

Lily nodded, "Yes, this I think they will."

Wrapping an arm around her daughter, Lucinda nodded, "It'll be a wedding you'll never forget!"