Disclaimer: Why is this necessary? I don't own any of the characters on As The World Turns. Copyrights belong to CBS and PGP. You think if I owned them I'd be here writing this piss?

A/N: Ok. Hi the readers of ATWT. This is my first fanfic, 'cause evil plot bunnies would not leave me alone! I've written other stories but none like this. I haven't been watching this soap for too long, but I gotta do this. It's Nuke by the way, and in this world, Ameera never happened or she already got her green card and is far, FAR away, studying. So if you like it, please, TELL ME! If you don't, please, DON'T SAY A WORD! " Also if my interpretations of places are off, sorry!

Chapter 1

Where the Hell is Noah?

Luke Snyder was by all means a calm person. He took whatever life threw at him with a smile or snide remark, as was his nature. So when a certain Noah Mayer decided to tell Luke that he had a few errands to run out of town and would be a little late for his birthday party that night, Luke just asked if they were that important.

"Yeah, they are. Trust me, okay," Noah had said, blue eyes glinting. "The party's at seven, right? I'll be there by 7:30 the latest, I promise. I wouldn't miss this for anything, you know that, right?" He had stepped closer to Luke, way up in the personal space area, and hugged him gently conveying his affection.

Luke had just nodded, sighed, given him a kiss on the cheek and a pat on the butt to send him off. Of course, he had threatened to 'beat his ass with a pitchfork if he was any later than that' somewhere in there but let's not mention it, shall we? Noah had gotten into his navy blue pick-up, shouted 'Seven-thirty' as if to remind him, and drove off.

That was six hours ago. Now it was 7:15 and Luke was getting into greeting the people who came to his party. They were having it at the farm, the backyard providing ample space for the kids to run around in. The older adults were scattered about alternately watching the children and catching up with their friends quietly. The young adults, however, were living it up, the legal ones drinking and mingling and the non-legals… well, not drinking but it was fine by Luke's standards.

"Hey, Luke!"

"Will! Gwen! Glad you guys could make it!"

Gwen smiled while Will opted for a confused look. "Make it? We had to come!" Will wrapped an arm around Luke's shoulders and squeezed. "It's not everyday a boy turns twenty-one! It's a rite of passage!"

"Yeah," Gwen chimed in. "It's an important day, so we know you'd want all the people who love you to be here. On that note, where's Noah? I thought he'd be doing that guardian thing right beside you, but I don't see him anywhere."

"He had some errands or something," Luke said, scratching his dirty blonde head sheepishly, "but he'll be here. He promised to be here by the half hour and that Noah Mayer is a punctual boy… even when he's late."

In case you're wondering… seven-eighteen found said Noah Mayer driving like a mad person through dark, forested hills, far away from Oakdale. He had gotten the perfect gift for Luke; at least, he hoped it was perfect. The first time he'd seen it, he had passed the little shop in Fairview without a second glance, but after spending so much time with Luke and everything they'd been through together, it just seemed like the right time. This was going to be his special surprise to Luke. Nobody in town, not even Luke's parents, knew about it. He was only going to buy it, but then the store offered a special "speedy" engraving service and he couldn't resist. Though it was worth it, it set him back by sixty dollars and twohours, which was why he was now rushing down hillsides at a breakneck pace, trying to get to Luke's party by the promised time. He was gonna make it to Oakdale in ten minutes or his name wasn't Noah Benjamin Mayer… and he really didn't want to experience that pitchfork.

Seven-thirty came and Luke Snyder did not see Noah Mayer. So he did what any good boyfriend would do. He called his cell. No-one answered. He left a voice-mail. Let's just say it wasn't a happy one and leave it at that.

Eight o'clock came and still no Noah. Luke left two more voice-mails, the last one a bit more pissed and a little worried. Pitchforks were involved, but deep down inside something felt wrong.

Eight-thirty and the damned boy was not in sight. Luke was starting to get seriously worried and told his mom and dad that Noah was over an hour late after leaving another message. Holden and Lily looked at each other solemnly and began making their own calls.

By nine o'clock, Luke was freaking out. No-one could reach Noah. The party had come to a sudden halt when Luke's parents had opted for the police and had been trying to contact Noah on their own with no luck.

Luke wanted to cry by ten. Apparently, you couldn't file a missing person's report before ascertaining that the person was actually "Missing". 'Well, that's effing stupid! My boyfriend could be out there hurt, lost all by himself and you want me to wait?!' he remembered shouting that and other things at the officer, who just took the tirade and asked evenly when was the last time Luke had seen or heard from Noah.

Luke deflated then and answered weakly, "Around one, here at the farm. We got back from lunch 'cause I had to help set everything up, and he said he was gonna do some errands, but he promised to be here by seven-thirty!" Tears prickled at the back of his eyes, but Luke knew that if he started crying now he wouldn't be able to stop. Then, realization hit him so hard that his knees gave out and Holden barely had time to keep him from greeting the ground in a painful way. "Oh God, what if he's been missing since then? I didn't… I didn't even c-call him. I got so… caught up with getting the stupid party ready, I-I forgot about him! What… what the hell is wrong with me?"

But the questions just kept coming. "Is there anyone with ill intent against Mr. Mayer? Do you suspect any foul play? Do you believe it was a possible abduction? Has Mr. Mayer been happy staying here? Do you know of any places he may run too? Does he have any family in towns nearby or distant?" The last question set Luke off. "No! No, we are his family, he loves it here and we love him! Noah is ours!" Luke wouldn't be able to hold together much longer, his voiced cracked harshly with these words, "He's mine! Mine! And I want him here. I want Noah home."

By Eleven, Luke was sobbing openly against his mother, tears flowing as though a dam broke inside of him. Lily was trying her best to keep him up, stroking his hair tenderly, whispering soothing words of encouragement, but all the 'It's okay's and 'I'm sure he's fine's in the world would not help Luke as much as seeing that old blue Ford at that instant.

"Come on, Noah. Where the hell are you?" Holden whispered to the empty air. Everyone had gone home by then, most offering hopeful tidings for Noah and Luke, some deciding to go searching around town for any trace of Noah but damn it all! If Noah didn't come back soon, Luke was gonna go crazy. So was Lily, Emma, everyone in fact. Noah needed to be here, now.

Unfortunately for Holden, Noah would not be there anytime soon. Why? Because… by seven-twenty two that night, Noah and his truck were not on any road, going anywhere. Noah Mayer was officially gone.

A/N YasuJ: You see? That's why I don't write this stuff. I put myself in trouble. Now I gotta finish it. Thinking about it… it may be four or five chapters. Aww, shit. Anyway, read and review I guess.

Noah: Wait! You can't stop there. What happened to me? Where am I?

Luke: I wanna know too!

YasuJ: Shut it! They'll find out, it's not like they can't guess! Now please be quiet. I may not have a pitchfork but I have a broomstick!

Luke: laugh What are you gonna do? Sweep us to death?

YasuJ: Try me, lover boy. I'll make your pretty little boyfriend disappear for a lot longer than you think. Same goes for you Blue Eyes!

Luke and Noah: silence

YasuJ: Much better. Cookies to anyone who guesses what Noah got Luke, and you gotta give a full description of it. If I like your idea, I'll use it in the story. Oh, and if anyone wants to be my beta… yeah send me a message. Anywhosit, R & R. Ja ne, minna-san.