The following question was posted on a message board recently: If you were a new character in Oakdale, which family would you want to be related to?

That was the inspiration for this story, which is an alternate-ending type story. Except that in my version, ATWT is really not going to end in September 2010. It's going to continue forever. My version starts after Carly, Jack, Dusty, and Janet realize that Carly and Jack want to be together as do Dusty and Janet. There is no "who's the daddy" storyline with Janet (because there is no baby), Rocco doesn't die, and there is no fire at Monte Carlo.

I'm working with almost fifteen years of history, and I've done my best to not delete any of it. The only thing that I have knowingly changed is that I created a name for Luke's foundation (I'm not sure that it has one) and I changed the purpose of it slightly so it can be used as a nod to past history on the show.

Chapter One

Luke is sitting behind his desk at the Snyder AIDS Foundation, pouring over bank statements and he is getting a headache. His cell phone rings and he is happy to see Alison's name pop up. He could use the distraction. "Hi Ali."

"Do you want to meet for coffee?" The friends make plans to meet at Java. Luke picks up the bank statements and walks out the door with them.

Alison takes one look at Luke and realizes something is wrong.

"I'm overwhelmed," he tells her when she inquires about his mood. "Noah won't talk to me, and the foundation isn't making any money. I'm trying to help people and make a difference in the world. I can't do that if I'm running out of money."

"Can't your mom help?"

Luke explains to Alison that he wants to do it on his own. Lily would give him the money in a heartbeat, but he doesn't want to do that. The foundation is his baby and right now it's the one thing that feels right to him. He just needs to come up with a plan...