I'd like to admit that I'm a new fan and only discovered the show about a week and a half ago. I've watched only the Luke and Noah scenes on Youtube, up to where Meg is trying to get Paul to come back with Eliza. Out of curiosity, after I started hearing things about Reid Oliver, I looked up all the scenes between he and Luke, finishing them midmorning on Sunday. I admit, I cried like a baby during those last few episodes. I can't honestly say whether I'm a Reid or Noah fan, but admit that I like and care about both of them, and that I am going to go back and finish the chunk of episodes in between everything else I've seen.

Anyway, I'm gonna stop rambling.

Disclaimer: I don't own As The World Turns, though I'm not sure who does.

Chapter 1

(Luke POV)

Life without Reid had proved to be quite difficult for the first several months after his tragic, "heroic" death. The way life never quite had been before. I surmised it to be for the simple fact that even as little as six months before, I had been unaware a person such as himself existed. It was almost a year later, just as I'd started to get back to being myself-helping take care of his belongings, playing a role in Memorial's new neuro unit, even seeing Chris Hughes about, watching as he took over the chief of staff position-that the pain began to lessen somewhat. For a while, I carried around Reid's stethoscope; when things got too tough to bear, I'd seek out Chris and hold up the end to his sternum. Being the sweet guy he was, he never complained, seeming to understand it's what I'd needed to help steady myself and happy to oblige, especially as it was my ex-boyfriend that had saved his life.

Nonetheless, a year later was when the pain began to subside just the slightest. Coincidentally, that was around the same time my cousin, Jade, showed up on our doorstep once more.

"Luke!" She exclaimed, pulling me into her eager arms immediately. "It's so good to see you!"

"Jade. Hi." I chuckled, pulling back so I could look at her face. "You, too. What are you doing here?" I shook my head. The bright smile on her face began to fade, the light in her eyes dulling significantly. "Oh, no. Jade." I said softly. "I'm not gonna like this, am I?"

"I need your help." She answered urgently, very serious. I stepped aside and ushered her in, closing the door behind us.
"Alright. What's this about?" I crossed my arms, fearing what would be said, inevitable of causing me stress.

"Is there anyone else here...or are we alone?" She looked around.

"We're alone. Now what is it? Are you in trouble with the cops again?"

"Huh." She scoffed, crossing her arms. "Well thanks for making it obvious how little you think of me."

"You can't really blame me for coming to that conclusion; you're kinda one for getting in trouble." I admitted honestly, shrugging. Anger entered her eyes instantly.

"Whatever. I don't need this." She said, heading for the door again.

"Jade, you said you need help. What is it?" I encouraged. "It must be important, by the look in your eyes." This made her stop short, turning back to me and sighing.

"I met this guy...a while back..." she started. I mentally face-palmed myself. I was not going to like this. "We met at a party and one thing led to another. I-I kinda...got pregant." She grimaced, waiting for my reaction. The face-palm wasn't mental this time.

"Somehow, I don't think this is the end of your story." I hedged.

"Well, I told him and he walked off on me. Figures, right? Anyway, I had him. Our son." She glanced down at her stomach. "He's a month old-" I looked up to notice my mom and grandmother Lucinda quietly entering the house, unashamedly eaves dropping on our conversation, "and I'm just not ready to be a single mother. I've been taking care of him for the last month just waiting until I got back to Oakdale. I knew you'd be able to help me."

"Help you? With what, exactly?" I tried to get clarification.

"To find a suitable family to raise him. I want to put him up for adoption." Before I could respond, my grandmother did.

"Why? So you can run back onto the party scene, throw yourself at the first guy who's the least bit interested and open your legs once more?" Lucinda Welsh cried out, anger in her voice. Jade spun around and glared.

"I'll have you know I'm starting schooling." Jade shot.

"It's about damn time you did something useful with your life-though I pitty your classmates and professors. Besides, who's paying for your education? Who did you swindle this time?"

"No one. There was no need to because I got in with a grant." My cousin answered smugly.

"Impossible. You're not that smart." Lucinda scoffed. "Or you wouldn't be getting rid of your own child."

"Mother!" Mom exclaimed, obviously embarassed. "Now, look. He is Jade's son and what she decides to with him is her decision."

"But have you really thought this over?" I asked, making sure she didn't make a huge mistake, only to find out after it was too late.

"I have. I was thinking about it back when I got pregnant. I've known this is what I wanted to do for months. I've also known that you guys are the best chance I have at finding the perfect family for him." Everyone looked around at each other, trying to decide non-verbally if we wanted to take on this job or if we thought trying to convince Jade to keep him was the best way.

"Well, we can certainly give it a try." Mom said with enthusiasm, smiling at my cousin. "It's still early enough in the morning. Do you want to bring him over and have us get started?" Jade nodded, hugging my mom and heading for the door. Grandma merely rolled her eyes and raised her chin in the air as she left. Jade was back within fifteen minutes, carseat cradled in the crook of her arm, little convertible-like shutters closed so we couldn't see the young infant.

"We can put out ads and get a lawyer-Tom. We'll run background checks, host interviews-" my mother started in, so excited to help, having a partial say in what happens to her nephew, not having to worry about any harm befalling him.

As the ladies got nestled into plans, I sat by and listened, not really sure what to do, naturally, as I'd never been a parent before. A soft, heartbreaking cry caught my attention from the little basinette, closer to me than anyone else. I glanced at Jade, making sure she gave me the okay, before pulling back the folds and carefully picking up the tiny boy. I cradled him into my arms and grabbed the full bottle that rested inside the carseat, figuring it was worth a shot to see if he was hungry.

He took the bottle eagerly, greedy on his intake.

"Jade, what's his name?" I asked without looking away from the little boy.

"Toby Art Tayler." She announced proudly.

"Toby." I cooed to the beloved figure in my arms. After a moment, his eyes opened, looking up at me. My heart broke instantly when the blue eyes met my brown, my breath catching completely in that instant of realization. I knew immediately that I loved him. At the thought of my female family members sitting a few feet away, discussing giving him up, my heart clenched painfully, panic clouding my senses and closing tight around me, suffocating. The thought of not being with him hurt. He was mine, I realized. This wonderful, healthy, perfect little boy that was given birth to by my own cousin...was meant for me. I wanted to care for him, to feed him and clothe him and to give him his heart's desires. I wanted to be his father.

And by the smile he managed to give me around the bottle, I was sure he felt the same.

"Wait!" I said urgently, catching all three females' attention. "I want to do it."

"You...want to call Tom?" Mom asked, as confused as the other two.

"No, I-" I looked back down at the adoring face, a lump gathering in my throat and tears collecting in my eyes. I swallowed audibly, looking up at all three. " I want to adopt him." I admitted.

"Whoa, Luke. Are you sure?" Grandma asked, concerned.

"I'm positive." I declared.

"Raising a child is a lot of work, sweetheart, and besides family and babysitters, there are no breaks. It'll have to be all or nothing." Mom explained hesitantly.

"I'm positive. I love him." A few tears dropped as I said this. "I love you, Toby." I told him in a soft whisper. "As long as you're alright with it." I adressed Jade, now.

"Absolutely." Jade smiled genuinely, standing up and coming toward us, staring at his face. "I know you'll take really good care of him." She assured.

~0~

That night, after we'd gotten everything legalized and official, Jade brought over all of Toby's things and I set up camp in my bedroom, promising the little bundle we'd get him a stable crib in the morning and he wouldn't have to settle for his basinette ever again. I wanted to place him somewhere more intimate. At first, on the bed with me, a pillow or two seperating us, but I was just too scared I'd roll over and squish him. My next thought was a nice setup on the floor, but then I could wake up in the morning and-forgetting he was there-step on him. And if not me, someone else. I just couldn't risk him getting hurt.

Jade was propositioned on staying a day or two while she said goodbye to her son. I didn't begrudge her that, but welcomed it. I also meant to ask her how Toby had wound up so pale with brown hair and blue eyes with her African-American heritage, but decided not to, realizing it was probably the father's genes. I also knew I'd have some explaining to do in the morning when Dad and my younger siblings got back from their father-kid weekend, but I revelled in the fact I was given the oppportunity to worry about how I'd broach the subject of the wondeful gift I'd received so recently.

"I love you, Toby. Daddy loves you." I whispered to him as I layed him down to rest that night-and every night after.

Aww! I thought it was sweet. Some of you might think of it as cheesy, but I tried to effectively portray a parent's feelings to the best of my ability, as I am not one. This was just an informational chapter, really, letting you know how these two ended up father and son. Please tell me what you think in a review.

~I'mBelleGoose