When Our Frames Collide

by CarolinaBlue

Sequel to "Sins of the Father"- Noah wrestles with his past while Luke deals with his future. Some secrets that were never meant to be discovered come to light...

14. Chapter 14

When Our Frames Collide

By Carolina Blue

Today's chapter brought to you by the song "Wraith Pinned to the Mist..." by Of Montreal. Yes, it's also been twisted around into a rather ubiquitous commercial jingle, but the original is still awesome!

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CHAPTER FOURTEEN – LET'S PRETEND WE DON'T EXIST

"Is he really okay? Or is he doing that 'I say I'm okay because I think that's what you want to hear' thing he does?"

Luke smiled. "I don't know, to be honest. I think somewhere in between." He heard Ali sigh on the other end of the phone. "But either way, I really do think he's going to be alright. He just needs some time to figure it out in his head."

"Of course, yeah." There was a pause, some noise on her end of the line. "Crap, I have to go. Will you tell him hi for me? And anything else that sounds really reassuring?"

He laughed. "Of course I will. And thanks again, Ali. For covering for us with this thing."

"Oh honey, of course! Okay, I really have to go. Give Noah a hug and kiss for me, and give one good glare at Casey and Jade if they get too cute, got it?"

"Yes ma'am," he answered, slightly impressed with how well she was taking the breakup with Casey. "Talk to you later, Ali."

After he hung up, he headed back into the kitchen. It wasn't like he was going to cook or anything, but it offered the best view of the back porch. Which was where Noah was currently sitting, stretched out on a lawn chair, surrounded by pillows and blankets, listening to whatever words were coming out of Casey's mouth.

Luke was slightly- in that Lily Snyder part of his brain- worried about Noah being outside in the cold for too long, but a larger and more logical part of his brain- which he admitted was his Holden Snyder side- knew that Noah needed it. It was their fourth day in this house, and Luke could see how jittery Noah got if stuck inside for too long.

Though he had to admit, being here was definitely helping. The six of them had developed a routine, steady and comforting. They were in their own universe here, one where reality and all its troubles couldn't touch them. It was probably helping more than just Noah right now.

"Hey," Maddie shuffled in, still in her pajamas. She stopped when she realized who she was talking to. "Oh God, you're not about to make breakfast, are you?"

"No," he gave her a glare as she reached for the coffee pot. "I'm trying to help Noah, not hurt him."

She smirked. "You stole my next line," she teased before adding some milk to her coffee mug. Then she gave a little laugh. "Of course, we could all get in here, I could throw on some Temptations, and we could reenact the breakfast scene from The Big Chill." She laughed again at his confused expression and then followed his line of sight out the window to the back porch. "How is he today?"

Luke's smile dropped a little. "He's dealing, I think. Despite what he said when we got here... he's shaken up. He's trying to act like he's fine, but-"

"I noticed it too," Maddie nodded. "He's really quiet. And it's like he can't stand to be in a room alone anymore."

"Yeah," Luke's voice was just as soft. "Which is weird, it's like the exact opposite of last year. Instead of withdrawing from everyone and locking himself away, it's like he needs to be near people."

"Can you blame him?" Maddie pointed out, leaning back against the counter next to him. "Luke, when I..." she stopped for a second before continuing. "When I got into his room? Even when he was asleep, he was, like, empty. I went to hold his hand and he didn't know it was me, he pulled away so fast..." she trailed off, looking out the window again. "I really think he's going to be okay, but I'm not surprised he's like this now."

Luke bit the inside of his cheek. He didn't want to agree out loud, even though it was true. Noah had spent a month either alone or stuck with people he couldn't trust. And he hadn't talked for a lot of that time. So of course he was like this, afraid to be alone right now, not sure where he stood with everyone and everything.

Luke understood that. But it didn't mean he liked it. And he didn't like that Noah was trying to hide it, to be so strong for him and reassure him that he was fine. Well, okay, he liked that Noah had that impulse. He just wished he didn't have to use it.

"He's been having nightmares, I think," Luke confided quietly. "Either that or all the time he spent in the hospital messed with his sleep schedule. I don't know. But he wakes up all the time, in the middle of the night. Doesn't make any noise, doesn't bolt out of bed, none of that."

"He doesn't want to wake you up," Maddie guessed.

Luke nodded. "But sometimes I do. He, like, jerks awake. Takes a minute or two to look around, remember where he is. Then he holds onto my arm or my hand or anything, and tries to go back to sleep. It's happened a couple times each night."

Maddie sat her empty coffee mug in the sink. "Well," she mused quietly. "I mean, if what you were told is true, they were drugging him a lot in the beginning. And combined with everything else that's happened, and being stuck in that same hospital room for so long..."

"Yeah," Luke cut off her train of thought, not wanting to go any deeper than that. "We just have to get him to accept that the worst is over. And get him used to talking again."

She grinned. "If anyone can do that, it's us!" she said perkily. She gave Luke a quick hug. "What about you, how are you holding up?"

Luke offered up a tired smile. "I'm ready for a vacation. A real one, not a..." he waved his hand around them at the house. "Not a super-secret hideout one."

"Hey," Maddie said firmly, pinching his cheek a little teasingly. "As long as you two are together? Things are going to be fine."

Luke poked her in the side. "Thanks."

They both leaned against the counter again, looking out the window. And just in time, because right then Casey finished telling some story, waving his hands in the air crazily, causing Noah to smile. No, not just smile. He actually laughed. Luke felt something in his stomach untwist at the sight, and he found himself relaxing even more as Casey drew Noah into a huge, fierce, Casey-Hughes-hug, and Noah returned it willingly.

Both he and Maddie busied themselves wiping the kitchen clean as Casey and Noah walked back into the house, Noah still limping slightly, one hand out a little to steady himself. He stopped in the doorway to the kitchen while Casey headed to the stairs. "I'm gonna grab a shower," Casey called out as he kept walking. "By the way guys, you're not fooling anyone, we know you were watching us!"

And Luke would've lied or come up with some excuse, but the fact that Noah blushed and smiled at him, reaching out in an unspoken request for a hug? Took all his words away.

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Luke sometimes wondered what his life would've been like if he had grown up in a normal town. With a normal family and normal parents and a normal boyfriend. But as always- just as he filled his head with images of apple pie and baseball games or whatever- he would remember that even if things always got screwed up, he still had what made him happy. He could deal with all the-

The phone ringing startled Luke out of his daydreams. He checked on Noah again- still sleeping, breathing deep and steady- and then picked up his cell. "Hello?" he answered quietly, not wanting to risk waking Noah. Granted, he could just get up and walk into the next room, but he wanted to be the first thing Noah saw when he opened his eyes. Just in case.

"Luke?" Damian sounded a little puzzled. "Is everything alright? I've been trying to call for days..."

"Damian, hi, um," Luke ran a hand through his hair, pushing it away from his face. Crap, he had totally forgotten about Damian. "Yeah, everything's fine. I'm... I'm with Casey and Jade and Hunter. We're up at Lake Michigan. Just for a little while."

"Is it because of Noah? Have you heard something, is he okay?" Damian sounded genuinely concerned, which always threw Luke for a loop. Because until recently, he had never considered putting 'Damian' and 'genuine' in the same hemisphere, let alone the same sentence. But he had come a long way since the last time he had been in Oakdale, Luke had to admit.

Damian had reappeared in Oakdale at the same time that Noah's pneumonia had, so the man had gotten a crash-course in how much the Snyders cared about his boyfriend...

"Okay," Luke plopped down on the bench next to Noah. "You get five more minutes out here and then I'm taking you back inside."

"Luke," Noah near-whined, coughing at the end of the word. "I just sat down."

Luke glared sternly, pulling the blanket around Noah's shoulders a little tighter, keeping his hands flat against Noah's chest. Even through the blanket and long-sleeved shirt and short-sleeved shirt Noah was wearing (he was chilled and shaking even though it was June), Luke could feel the crackle and stutter of his breath. Stupid pneumonia. "And you'll be standing back up in five minutes, so enjoy it while it lasts."

Noah pouted. Actually pouted. Luke had to fight so hard not to smile at the look on his face. "You love getting to boss me around, don't you?"

Luke let the smile show now. "I love lots of things I get to do with you." He leaned up a little, kissing Noah's cheek. Noah rolled his eyes, even though he couldn't help but smile too. Luke kissed him again, this time on the forehead as Noah rested it down on Luke's shoulder.

They sat there for just a few minutes, completely ignoring everything around them, until the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. The sun was in their eyes as they tried to figure out who the driver was, and Noah coughing again distracted Luke from getting up to find out.

He had just planted another light kiss on the top of Noah's head, rubbing his back soothingly, when a voice called out quietly. "Luciano."

Luke froze. No. No way. His grip on Noah's shoulder tightened, and for a second he couldn't get himself to move. To turn, look up, and confirm that this man was back in Oakdale. No way.

But then Noah looked up at him, confused and wary. "Luke?"

That broke him out of his trance. He definitely wasn't about to let Damian anywhere near Noah, that was for damn sure. "Noah, go inside, okay? Go find my parents." He stood up, making sure he was between his boyfriend and his... and Damian.

Noah shook his head as he stood up too, still clutching the blanket around him. He moved next to Luke, holding his hand. "What's going on?"

Luke would have answered him, but he saw Damian's gaze zero in on their clasped hands. "Please, baby, it's okay. Just go inside." He saw Damian's eyebrows raise at the 'baby,' but luckily he didn't say anything. Because Luke would have punched him if he did.

Noah's fever-addled brain must have finally caught up with everything. "Wait, this is him?" his voice was lower, tight. Angry. "I'm not leaving you alone with him."

Damian held up his hands. "I'm not here to cause any trouble, Luciano, I-"

"My name is Luke," he snapped quickly. "And don't think for a second that you're coming into this house." He squeezed Noah's hand, and was about to try to get him to go inside again, when the door to the kitchen opened. And suddenly, thankfully, his parents were standing next to him.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Holden's voice was like thunder, and his face was just as stormy. He stood protectively in front of all of them, arms crossed, glaring hard at Damian.

Damian took a step back closer to his car, hands still up peaceably. "I stopped by your house but no one was home. I thought I might find you all here." He looked at the four of them, his gaze curious when it landed on Noah. Luke fought the urge to pull Noah behind him, knowing it wouldn't make a difference and probably just make Noah mad.

"Well, you found us. Now you can leave," Holden spoke quietly but steadily.

"Please," Damian stayed where he was, but his face begged all of them to listen. "I just want to speak with you."

"About what, Damian?" Lily echoed her husband's question. "What would we want to hear from you?"

Damian was silent for a moment before finally speaking. "I... I wanted to see you. All of you. To, well, to apologize. To make up for how I..." He stopped for a second, focused on Luke, and then continued. "I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, Luke. I won't deny that. But I don't want to be that man anymore. I'm not that man anymore. And if there is a way to be forgiven, to make up for the things I've done, I want to do that."

Holden snorted derisively, his eyes flashing with anger and disbelief. "If you think for a second that I'm going to let you-"

"Dad," Luke said softly, reaching forward to touch his arm. "Don't." Holden turned to look at him, surprised, but Luke looked back at him calmly. "Let him say whatever it is he wants to say, then he can go." He glanced at Damian over Holden's shoulder. "Then I want him to go."

Holden shook his head, was about to argue more, when Lily stopped him. "Maybe it would be best for me and Luke to handle this," she suggested quietly. "Why don't you take Noah inside, he's been up for too long anyway."

Both Holden and Noah started protesting at this. "No," Noah said stubbornly, even though his voice had grown scratchy. "I'm staying with Luke."

"Honey, you're about to fall over, and it's about time for another dose anyway," she rubbed his arm. It was almost a running joke in the Snyder household now- any medicine Noah took could knock him out for hours.

"No. I don't care. I'm staying," Noah frowned obstinately, causing Luke to want to gasp and laugh at the same time. Noah was actually arguing with his mother, was actually refusing her request. Wow, this was one for the record books.

"Noah." Lily frowned right back, hand on her hip, putting on her best stern-mother face. The one you weren't allowed to talk back to. "You're still sick and you need to get more rest. Nothing's going to happen out here, I promise." She turned to Holden next. "Get him inside, and make sure he stays inside."

And when Lily's face was like that, in her Lucinda-mode, no one could really argue. Holden glanced back at Damian one more time before putting a hand on Noah's back, steering him towards the kitchen. "Come on, kiddo. No use fighting when she's like this." He turned to Luke. "If he tries anything..."

Luke smiled a little. "You can come back out here and beat the crap out of him. I promise, Dad." He hoped he said that loud enough for Damian to hear. "We'll be fine." He spoke to both his dad and Noah. Noah looked at him uncertainly, but let Holden lead him back inside.

Luke turned around then, his smile hardening back into a glare. "Say what you have to say, Damian. Then go."

Damian was looking in the direction of the kitchen doorway, but he looked back at Luke, trying to offer a smile. "So that must be your-"

"Don't," Luke cut him off. "We're going to talk about what you're doing here, not the guy I'm in love with." He hoped that hurt him a little bit. "What do you want?"

Damian looked back and forth between him and Lily, gathering himself. "I want to make amends..."

"Luke?" Damian's voice cut through his thoughts, bringing Luke back to the present.

"Sorry, Damian, I'm kinda tired. No, we haven't heard anything new about Noah. Casey and everyone just figured I needed some time away," he answered, hoping Damian would drop the subject there.

"Of course, whatever's going to help you at this point. Any idea when you'll be back?"

Luke frowned. He really had no idea. He didn't plan on going back to Oakdale until he was sure Noah could. "I don't know yet. Maybe a few more days. Why? Do you need me at work, did anything happen?" He wanted to ask if Damian had bribed anyone new, but now wasn't the time for that.

"No, no everything's... everything's fine." Maybe Damian thought Luke wouldn't hear the hesitation there, but he did. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay, son."

Luke wanted to tell Damian not to call him son, but more than that he just wanted to hang up the phone. He was talking to the wrong 'father.' Luke really, desperately, wanted to talk to Holden. To hear his dad say everything was going to be okay, that they had made the right decision busting Noah out of that hospital. That this mess with Damian and the bribery was fixable. If Holden said it, Luke could believe it.

"I'm okay," he finally responded. "I'll be home in a few days, I'll give you a call then?"

"Sure. Call me if you need anything. And... and be careful, Luciano. I'll see you soon." There was that hesitation again. But before Luke could dwell on it, Damian hung up.

Luke stared at his phone for a few seconds, feeling like his mind was racing and blank at the same time.

"You should call him," a voice, rough and quiet, spoke.

Luke twitched, startled, and looked to the bed. Noah was watching him, eyes sad and knowing. "I should call who?" Luke played dumb.

Noah shook his head a little. "Holden. You want to call him. And you should."

Luke smiled, standing up and stretching a little before sitting down on the bed next to Noah's hip, facing him. "And you should still be asleep," he deflected.

"You don't have to watch over me, Luke. I'm okay," Noah's voice was still soft, trying to sound reassuring.

The only problem was, Luke knew that at least part of it was an act. Noah was still holding stuff in, trying to be okay so Luke wouldn't worry. Which just made Luke worry even more. He shrugged, smiling wider. "Maybe I like watching you," he replied, tapping Noah on the nose.

It caused Noah to smile too, almost involuntarily. "Well, it's not like I don't like having you near a bed," he admitted, before putting his arms around Luke's waist and pulling, forcing Luke to fall fully into the bed almost on top of him.

He laughed a little, scolding at the same time. "Noah!" He twisted around enough so he wasn't putting all of his weight onto Noah's body, still worried a little about his leg. Instead he draped himself along one side of Noah's body, propping himself up on one elbow. Once they were both comfortable, he leaned in to kiss the underside of Noah's chin. "You're hopeless."

Noah hummed his unashamed agreement, kissing him back. After a moment, he grabbed Luke's free hand in both of his, squeezing. "He's always going to love you, you know. No fight between you two will ever change that," he said, suddenly serious.

"I know," Luke replied. And maybe that was part of the problem, in some ways.

"Are you okay?" Noah's face was so earnest and concerned, it gave Luke those fuzzy feelings he swore he was too old and cynical to feel. Except for whenever Noah was with him, apparently.

He smiled. "Of course, I'm fine," he realized in the back of his brain that he was trying to do the same kind of reassuring that Noah was. "You're the one recuperating, how are-"

"Luke." Noah's voice stopped him again. "Stop." He said it calmly, almost gently, rubbing his thumb along the length of Luke's hand. "I know you are too. Recuperating, I mean. And with everything going on... please, just- just tell me how you're doing?"

Luke stared at him for a full second, almost unsure of what to say. "I don't know," he finally whispered.

Noah studied him for a second before holding his arms out again. "Come here."

Luke went willingly this time, burrowing himself into Noah's chest, wrapping his arms around Noah's middle just like he felt Noah's wrapping around him. "I just wish everything could be different. Not us, not you," he was quick to amend. "But with my dad. And with Damian. And with your family..." he shook his head a little, resting his forehead down so he could feel Noah's heartbeat.

"I know," he heard Noah's soft reply. "I do too. But Luke? Just so you know? If I had to put up with all that- with everything- just so I could be with you and your annoyingly lovable self? I'd do it. You and I, we're... you're worth it to me."

His goal probably wasn't to make Luke cry, but he was dangerously close to it anyway. "I love you too," he said instead, knowing that Noah would understand. After another moment, "And I'm not annoying," he murmured. Noah's answering laugh rumbled through both their bodies.

But just before they could really relax, before Luke could hope that Noah would get some more of the sleep he still needed, a sound from outside their window startled both of them. It sounded like a car pulling up into the driveway.

"Oh God..." Luke bolted upright, keeping one hand on Noah's chest to stop him from doing the same. "Wait right here."

Noah shook his head, frantic. "Luke, if it's them, you guys have to go. You have to... to, I don't know, hide or something. Get away. They'll try to get you in trouble, they'll-"

"Noah, no one is going anywhere, okay?" He climbed out of the bed. He could hear car doors opening and closing, muffled voices. Male and female. Damn it. "We're not leaving you here, and we're not letting them take you back."

Noah looked terrified. "Luke..." He was well on his way to panicking, and Luke had two options- try to see who was coming up the front steps of the house, or try to calm Noah down. Really, there was no choice.

"Hey," he sat back down on the bed, put his hand on Noah's back. "It's going to be okay. Whatever happens now, it's you and me together. They can't pull us apart again." He leaned his forehead against Noah's, the both of them breathing together.

A knock on the bedroom door had both of them flinching. Luke kept his hand on Noah as they stood up from the bed. "Guys?" Casey's voice called to them. "You might want to come out here."

Feeling slightly like they were walking to an execution, Luke led Noah out into the rest of the house. And stopped so suddenly in the hallway that Noah almost fell against him. "Oh my God," he breathed out shakily.

The four people in the entranceway looked back at him, triumphant. "Hey there," Holden smiled. Jack, Emma, and Lucy stood just behind him. "Uh, surprise?"

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Holden watched the expression on Luke's face go from scared to shocked to relieved to confused in the span of a few seconds, and he had to fight back a wider smile.

"What... what are you doing here?" Luke finally got himself to ask.

Holden made sure his smile was gentle, reassuring. "We thought you could use some help for a few days." His gaze moved on to the guy standing behind Luke. Noah looked just as bewildered by it all, as though he was looking at a mirage, but at least he was upright. At least he was here. Holden let out a silent sigh of relief, the one he had been holding in until he could know that Noah was okay.

"But how?" Luke looked around at all of them, including his friends crowding the hallway beside them.

Jade cleared her throat from where she stood next to Casey. "I've been making a couple calls since we left the hospital, Luke. I think we need the backup right now, and someone who won't destroy the kitchen anytime they walk into it."

"Hey!" Casey protested before he could stop himself.

Emma smiled, stepping forward to pull both Luke and Noah into a hug. Holden pretended not to hear the thankful sigh from all three of them. "And that's where I come in, sweetlings. You kids need some proper meals in you, not whatever junk you order at McDonald's."

"Actually we've been going to Bojangles more than-" Maddie shut Hunter up with an elbow to his side.

Emma just smiled, stepping back from the hug that neither boy seemed willing to end. "We left Oakdale under the pretense of a Snyder family reunion in New York. If anyone comes asking questions," she touched Noah's arm gently, smiling at him. "They won't have reason to be suspicious."

Noah didn't look particularly convinced, but Jack spoke up reassuringly. "Everything's taken care of. Brad and Katie took Jacob to Disneyland so they're not in town either, and Carly is staying with Parker and Sage. Everything's fine. And they never knew Lucy here was a part of the family, so they'd never suspect that anyway."

Holden was still smiling when Luke looked back to him. He could see the questions in his son's eyes, and he nodded confidently, hoping he was answering them. And he must have, because a second later Luke was right there in front of him, pulling him in for a hug. For a moment Holden was fifteen years younger, comforting his little boy about a skinned knee or bee sting. He held Luke tightly to him, the relief of it all nearly making him weak.

Over the top of Luke's head, he half-watched as Jack approached Noah, giving him a light hug as well. "Missed you, kid," he heard his cousin say quietly.

Noah returned the embrace, nodded a little, offering a smile. "Same here."

Holden relaxed even more at that, squeezing Luke just a little tighter before pulling away. "We'll talk later," he said just loud enough for Luke to hear.

Luke gave a nod of his own, relieved. "Yeah, I'd like that." Then he reached past Holden, hugging Lucy for a second. "Thanks for coming."

"Of course!" she shoved his arm lightly before turning to Noah. "And if it's okay, Noah, maybe I can take a look at your knee? Make sure it's healing right and living with these crazy goofs hasn't hurt it any more."

"Sure," he answered cautiously, probably embarrassed by the attention. Holden stood back and watched as Lucy hooked her arm through Noah's and led him deeper into the house, following Casey, Jade and the others.

"This place is beautiful, how did you find it?" she asked them as they all entered the living room.

"Oh, um, it's- it's mine. My mom's," Hunter stuttered, waving his hand from the corner where he was standing. "Not my real mom. My first mom. It was hers." He blushed furiously.

"Well alright then," Lucy wasn't fazed by the strange answer at all. She smiled at Hunter tentatively. "I don't know you."

Casey magically appeared between them. "Hunter, this is Lucy. Lucy, Hunter. Hunter is Alison's brother and Emily's son-" he held up a hand when Lucy opened her mouth. "Don't ask, and Lucy is Luke's cousin and Craig Montgomery's daughter-" he switched the hand over to Hunter. "Don't ask."

"Okay," they said together. Lucy smiled wider, held her hand out for Hunter. "Well, it's nice to meet you Hunter."

He stepped forward, almost tripping over his feet and falling into her. Casey caught him at the last second. "You too." He smiled broadly, echoing hers. Especially when their hands touched.

Holden caught Luke's quiet snort of laughter from beside him, and shook his head at his son, though he could practically hear his thoughts. We can't go one day without a couple breaking up or coming together, can we?

He watched as Jack and Maddie sat with Noah on the couch, Lucy approaching to do whatever examination she had planned. Emma was busy in the kitchen already, enlisting Jade and Hunter to help her, Casey carrying her grocery bags and supplies. Which left him and Luke with nothing to do.

He put his arm around Luke's shoulders, bringing him a little closer. "Let's go for a walk somewhere, okay?"

For just a second, Luke looked nervous. But then he took a deep breath, smiled. "Sure. I know a place we can go." He took a second to make eye contact with Noah, somehow silently telling him he'd be back soon. Noah nodded and smiled encouragingly, even as Lucy started scolding him to get his attention back on her.

Holden motioned for Luke to lead the way, taking one last second to glance around the living room and kitchen. At the bubble these kids and his family had created. Safe, happy. Together. He smiled, following Luke out the front door.

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Luke led his dad down the driveway to the fountain and pond that was just across the quiet one-lane street they were on.

"Nice place," Holden commented, taking a seat on the marble bench next to him.

"Yeah," Luke breathed out, looking at the small pond, the giant willow tree hanging over one end of it. "Noah and I sit out here after dinner. I think it reminds both of us of..."

"Of home," Holden finished for him. Luke just nodded. Both of them sat there, facing the pond, hands on their knees. "Luke," Holden finally spoke. "I-"

Luke couldn't let him do it. "I'm sorry, Dad. I'm so sorry. For making you think you're not the dad I want. For... making it seem like I'd ever choose Damian over you. I mean, I know- I'm so lucky I have you. I know that. To think of the fathers I could have had, guys out there who treat their kids like..." His voice cracked against his will.

"Luke," Holden turned to him now, hand going to his shoulder.

"No, I'm not done," Luke was almost breathless, and missed the smile Holden couldn't hide. "You've always been there for me. No matter what. You've always given me what I need, even if I don't think I need it, but then I realize later you were right all along and I did. You..." quieter now, "Sometimes I think you're a better dad than I deserve."

"Hey," Holden stopped him now. "I don't ever want to hear you say something like that. You think I'd be this good of a dad to just anybody?"

Luke smiled, but still answered honestly. "Yes."

Holden reached up, ruffling his hair a little like he used to when Luke was ten and went through that 'I'm too cool to hug people' phase. "Well, it's not true. I got blessed with some pretty great kids, and you're one of them."

"Dad," Luke shook his head. "I've made so many friggin' mistakes, how can-"

"Oh, and I haven't?" Holden pointed out. "Luke, they're just mistakes. People have always made them, always will. You are not a bad person. I'm proud to call you my son, Luke. Look at all," he waved a hand back towards the house. "I don't think just anybody would do something like this." He ducked his head a little, looking Luke in the eye. "My son would. And I'm always going to be damn lucky to call him my son."

"I'm glad I'm a Snyder," he said then, voice a little small, recalling their giant argument that started this whole thing. "I'd definitely rather be a Snyder than a Grimaldi. I shouldn't have said that."

"Then why did you?" Holden prompted.

"I don't-" Luke was about to say he didn't know, but that wasn't true, was it? "I was upset and panicked when we were arguing. And I wanted to make you mad, like I was mad. Because sometimes it's scary being me. It's like I'm waiting for that moment where Damian's DNA is going to take over. Like it's inevitable."

"It's not, Luke," his dad insisted.

Luke sighed. "Logically, yeah, I know. But it feels like it could happen. Like Noah was always so scared that he would do something like the Colonel, you know? The pressure, the weight in the back of my brain telling me every 'mistake' I've made is something Damian would make... I just wanted to get it over with."

"That doesn't sound like you- leaving something up to fate. You're usually more proactive and decisive than that."

He shrugged. "I was scared. Every time Damian comes to town something bad happens. I wanted this time to be different. And I think I knew it wouldn't be, but I was trying so hard to believe him this time. I didn't want you to be right."

"I'm sorry that I am," Holden replied heavily, leaning in a little closer. "And I'm sorry I acted like I didn't trust you or want you to grow up. Because the truth is, I'm a little selfish there Luke. I want you to grow up like me, like your grandmothers, like Jack, like... like my dad. I don't want you to be burdened with, well, with Damian. I guess I got a little ahead of myself with that, though."

Luke blinked back the tears in his eyes. "Can't you just yell at me and tell me how stupid I've been?"

"I think that goes without saying, doesn't it?" his dad joked back. After Luke laughed, he settled back more relaxed on the bench. "I know you, Luke. I know half that stuff you said was because you were upset. And I know that because half the stuff I said was for the same reason."

"Like father, like son," he said quietly, blushing a little when Holden grinned wider. Though he turned quizzical when Holden's smile disappeared. "What?"

"Luke, there are some things I need to tell you. About the hit-and-run." Holden looked about as unhappy as a person could look. A tiny walnut-size bit of fear formed in Luke's stomach. "Jack caught the guy who did it, but they found out he was… he was hired to do it."

"To hit Jade?" Luke asked, confused. "Why?" The look on his dad's face had that walnut growing into a huge, giant boulder. "Oh. To hit me."

Holden nodded reluctantly. "He was paid ten thousand dollars by someone who works for the Port Authority."

Port Authority.

Oh.

Damn it. "Daniel Thrace?" he guessed. The boulder was an elephant now, stomping on his insides.

Holden didn't even look that surprised that Luke knew the name. "So it is connected to Damian, isn't it?" he asked, almost resigned.

Luke took a deep breath. Here goes nothing. "I found out, a little while before the accident, that um… Damian's been bribing Port Authority to get Grimaldi Shipping around fees and stuff. I don't know all the details or how long it's been going on, but I know it's been awhile. Something must have happened between them."

"And Daniel Thrace wanted to send Damian a message by hurting you." Holden's voice was a lot tighter. Funny enough, it reminded Luke of Noah whenever he tried to keep himself from getting angry. "Does Damian know that you know?"

Luke shook his head. "I was trying to find more evidence before I went to anyone about it. Noah and Jade and Casey were the only ones who knew."

He waited for the freakout, for the 'I told you so,' but none came. Instead, Holden looked at him steadily. "Well, that ends now. From here on out, you've got me and Jack and your grandmother and anyone else who can help. We'll all figure this out, Luke. I promise."

Then he waited for himself to freak out, but it didn't come either. He just smiled, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders he didn't even know had been there. "Good."

Holden gritted his teeth for a second, jaw muscles jumping. "I'm not going to let Damian or anyone else hurt you, or Jade or Noah, again."

Luke felt his own hands shake a little at that. They had nearly been killed, because of Damian. Noah's life- both their lives- had nearly been ruined, because of Damian. And (as Jade has pointed out several times) Jade's car had been ruined, because of Damian. Maybe they were all right. Maybe it was time to sever ties, once and for all.

They were crossing the street and almost back in the house when he realized his dad was speaking again. "You know, I'm proud of you Luke. For doing all this." He nodded towards the front door. "The lengths you two go to, to be together. It's pretty awe-inspiring."

Luke was trying his best not to blush again. "He's worth it."

Holden's arm was around his shoulders. "Yeah, he is. And I think he'd agree that you are too."

Luke couldn't help it then, he pulled Holden into another quick hug. "Thanks for not giving up on me, Dad."

Holden just grinned as they re-entered the house. "Never going to happen, kiddo." He might have said more, but they were both stopped by the smells coming from the kitchen. "Well, we know what Mama's been up to."

Luke just nodded, hearing the sounds of Hunter and Lucy assisting Emma in the kitchen, everyone else gathering in the dining room. He didn't think it was possible, but Luke felt himself relax just a little bit more. With his dad next to him, the smell of Grandma's cooking in his nose, and the voices of Noah and the others in his ears… it was as close to truly happy as he'd felt in a long time.

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Lily had been waiting for this moment to happen. Expected it. She had been mentally preparing for days, ever since that phone call from Jade. She put on her best Lucinda-Walsh face and opened the patio door. "Hello." She didn't open the door wider. She didn't invite them in.

"Lily," Autumn Miller took a deep breath, then a deeper one. She looked like a wreck, all three of them did. (Lily noticed Justin wasn't with them.) Eyes red from tiredness or tears, shoulders slumped... Lily would have felt bad for them if she didn't know better.

"He's not here," she said before they could ask. "I don't know where he is." Her voice cracked a little, but not for the reasons they thought. Still, anything that made her seem more upset would probably sell this better.

"You haven't seen him? Spoken to him?" Eric's voice sounded a little rough, like he hadn't slept in days. Lily bitterly hoped that was true. So they would know how she felt. But then she wanted to kick herself. Their child had been kidnapped twenty years ago. They already knew what it felt like.

"No," she answered honestly. "I haven't."

"Can we talk to Luke?" he asked tentatively.

She just barely managed not to lash out at him. "No, you can't. Luke is out with his friends right now, he needed a break from all... from everything." She did her best not to glare accusingly at them, and failed spectacularly. "And even if he was here, I wouldn't let you near him."

"Please, just- do you know where he is?" Autumn tried again.

"No," she said again, this time lying through her teeth. "I have no idea where he is. But you know what? I'm glad no one knows. I'm glad he got away." At the shocked looks on their faces (not so much on Krista's, Lily noticed), she continued. "You were hurting him, keeping him there. Not letting him make his own decisions. He wasn't sick. He wasn't incapable. You took that away from him!"

Eric shook his head, expression hardening. "We don't have to listen to this." He was about to pull Autumn away, but Lily kept going.

"He got out of the hospital. Apparently he signed, what did your lawyer say they were called, AMA papers? He found a way to leave legally and apparently found a place to hide. So that psychological hold you had on him doesn't seem necessary, does it?" she pressed on.

"We didn't come here for this," Eric snapped, arm going almost protectively around his wife. Krista stood behind them, eyes on the ground, biting her lower lip uncertainly. "Certainly not from you."

"Excuse me?" Lily's eyes narrowed.

Autumn put her hand on Eric's arm, "Honey, no. Now's not the time."

"Not the time for what?" Lily wasn't about to let that go.

Autumn sighed, turning to face her once again. Her face was colder, almost hostile. "When we first met, you told me Noah had been through some horrible things, do you remember?"

"Yes," Lily bristled. "And I remember wanting to make sure you knew that, so you would be careful with him. A lot of good that did."

Autumn flinched. "But you didn't tell me everything. You didn't tell me that so many of those 'horrible things' happened while he lived in this town. While he was with you and your family."

"Are-" Lily actually had to take a step back, shocked. "Are you saying that we let that happen to him? That him getting hurt was our fault?"

The woman shook her head. "No, but... but you made it seem like you looked after him. That you cared about him like he was your own-" She shook her head again, a quick jerk of a motion that was almost violent. "But you're all not his family, are you? You were just around when it was convenient. When it suited your son. When they weren't together, why weren't you-"

"Autumn, you're right," Eric cut in softly, almost consolingly. "Now's not the time, okay? Let's go."

Lily just stared at them, confused and shaken. "What? What does that mean? What do you know about any of that?"

Eric looked at her, so tired and drawn. "We know that someone needs to step up and be his family. And it should be us, not you." And with that, with Lily still struggling through her surprise to come up with a response, he led his wife and daughter away.

Well, not quite. Krista hung back just a little, still looking at Lily so uncertainly. "I know you know where he is," she said quietly, so only Lily could hear. "I'm not going to ask where. I'm not going to try to call him or talk to him. But, but please. Can you just tell me how he is?"

For a second Lily frowned, not wanting to fall for some trick. But then she really studied Krista, thinking about everything she had done for Noah and Luke while they were apart. Maybe... "He's okay," she whispered. "He's safe, he's healing."

Krista sucked in a shaky breath, nodding. "Will you, um, will you tell him I'm sorry? And I'm glad he's okay? That I... I just want him to be okay..." She trailed off, looking cautiously hopeful.

Lily felt tears in her own eyes. All these poor kids, suffering at the choices of their parents. It made her want to run inside, grab her children in the biggest hug possible, and never let go. And once Luke and Noah got home, she'd probably do just that. In the meantime, she smiled in what she hoped was a reassuring manner. "I'll tell him."

"Good," Krista's voice was still so quiet. "Good. Thank you."

As Lily watched her go, she checked her watch. It was only just after noon. With that, she turned and went back in the house, shutting and locking the door behind her. Well, if ever there was an excuse to have a glass of wine so early in the day, this was probably it.

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Krista quickly wiped away the last of her tears as she joined her parents out on the driveway. Part of her wished she had stayed in Atlanta with Justin. She knew he disagreed with their search for Noah, and she was starting to think he was right.

But that wasn't why she was with her parents now. No, she didn't want to find Noah and try to convince him or bring him back to Georgia. She just wanted to see for herself that he was okay. And she wanted to... well, she wanted to apologize to him. She should have found a way to make all of that work, instead of trusting her obviously grieving and misguided parents to do it. Justin was right, this was beyond all of them.

If they lost Noah forever because of this...

When did you have him to begin with? a voice in her head asked. It was that overly-logical part of her brain, the one that sounded like her boyfriend. She mentally glared at the voice and focused back on her parents. They were just getting back to the rental car when a figure approached them. Krista started for a moment, before vaguely recognizing the man. Who was he...?

"Mr. Grimaldi, hello," Eric acknowledged the man but didn't look to happy to see him. Krista frowned. Grimaldi? Luke's biological father?

"You haven't found Noah?" Damian asked.

"No," Eric sighed. "We haven't. Why?"

Damian glanced back at the Snyder house, then looked at them again. "I spoke to Luke today. He and his friends are up at Lake Michigan right now."

"Lake Michigan?" Eric echoed. "They're not in Oakdale?"

"You think Noah is with them?" Autumn was eager, almost desperate. Krista wanted to hug her, but she felt like she was in some sort of weird limbo right now. She didn't know what she wanted anymore.

Damian nodded. "It's possible. Luke didn't give me a lot of concrete answers when I talked to him. I get the feeling he was hiding something."

Krista frowned. This was weird, right? Luckily, her dad must've felt the same way. "I don't get it, Damian," Eric said. "Why are you helping? Why have you done all this? Helping us find that lawyer, telling us the truth about Noah and... and them," he nodded back towards Lily's house.

"What?" Krista's frown deepened now. "What truth? What's going on?"

"Krista," her mother said softly. "The Snyders... they haven't exactly been truthful. About always being there for Noah. They led us to believe that they had brought Noah into their family, but they," she paused again, trying to figure out the best way to word it all. "They didn't."

"What are you talking about?" Krista shook her head. How could they think that? The way that family- those kids, the grandmothers, all of them- doted on Noah, she couldn't believe it was all some lie.

"They haven't always treated Noah well, Krista," Damian said gently, his accent putting her teeth on edge for some reason. "Noah's been hurt in this town more than you know, and some of it was because of the Snyders."

"No way, I can't believe-"

"They may not have hurt him directly," Damian cut off her protest. "But they didn't do anything to help him."

"But he loves them, I know he does," she insisted.

Damian shook his head sadly. "Because he never knew anything better. He was clinging to them because he had nothing else. But it's true, Krista. I've shown your parents the records from Memorial, from the police station, from... other sources. Noah's better off with your family, I know it."

"A-and that's why you did all that for us?" Autumn asked. "Why you helped us find that lawyer, and get the paperwork for Noah's proxy, and everything?"

Wait. Krista cocked her head to the side, studying the man again. Had it been Damian's suggestion to take Noah to Georgia in the first place? "Why have you been helping us," she repeated her father's question. "Even though you knew it would upset Luke?"

Damian gave them a sad, long-suffering look. Krista didn't know whether to believe him or not, this whole thing was getting more and more confusing. "I knew it would upset Luke at first, but I also knew the truth. And I know how you all feel. These boys... they need to be with their families. Their real families." He let that sink in for a moment, before nodding and heading back to his own car. "Luke said he was at Lake Michigan. I'd start there." And with that, he was gone.

Krista stared after the man, even as she got into the rental car with her parents. Her brain was overloaded with questions and theories and a million disjointed thoughts. What records did Damian have that the Snyders had kept secret? It couldn't be that mess with Colonel Mayer from last year, they all already knew that. But then what was it?

She chewed on her lower lip for a minute, trying to think this all through. She felt like she was in AP Calculus all over again- nothing made sense, the answers just out of her reach. So she did the same thing she did in high school. She went to her older brother for help.

Pulling out her cell phone, she sent a quick text to Justin. Okay. We need to look into the doctor at that hospital. You're right. Something weird is going on.

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The room was dark when Luke opened his eyes. A glance at the clock told him it was just a little after midnight, and instinctively he knew he was alone in the room. Which meant he was alone in the bed. Which meant no Noah.

He sat up slowly, blinking away the sleep from his eyes. The room was dark and the windows were closed. Noah probably just needed a moment of air, probably took a walk or something. Lucy said his knee was healing just like it should, so it was good for him to move around.

Ducking his head out of the room, he heard a soft, murmured voice coming from down the hallway and could see the flickering light of a television bouncing off the walls. Curious, he followed it into the living room, but the sight in front of him had him pausing in the doorway, fighting the tight feeling in his chest.

Emma was sitting on the couch, watching some old movie on mute on the TV. She was singing softly under her breath, an old hymn she used to sing as lullabye when Luke was a kid. He could still remember being bundled up in a huge quilt and drifting off to it as a boy, spending nights at the farmhouse.

He smiled fondly at the memory and even more at Noah, who was fast asleep, his head resting in Emma's lap. Luke didn't know whether to laugh or cry or take a picture. So instead he stood still and just watched.

It didn't take long for Emma to notice him there. She smiled warmly, in that way that only a 'grandma' can, kept one hand on Noah's forehead, and beckoned Luke forward with her other. "Don't just stand there," she whisper-scolded.

He grinned a little and approached them, grabbing a blanket off an armchair along the way. "Yes ma'am." Gently, he covered Noah with the blanket, then settled on the floor at her feet, leaning back sideways against the couch, at eye-level with Noah. "How long has he been asleep?"

"About half an hour. He promised to stay up and watch this movie with me, but..." she smiled as she trailed off.

Luke nodded. "No, good. He needs the sleep." Unable to stop himself, he snuck a hand under the blanket, finding Noah's. Even in his sleep, Noah tightened his fingers around Luke's instinctively. "He's gonna be embarrassed when he wakes up," he said, nodding to Noah's head in her lap.

Emma sniffed almost haughtily. "He'll just have to get over it, won't he?" But she kept her hand in Noah's hair gentle, almost soothing. Her voice went quieter. "How's he doing, Luke? Really."

"Really?" Luke sighed the word out. He watched Noah sleep for a minute, still holding his hand. "I think he's terrified- and I am too- that at any moment someone is going to show up and take him away again."

Emma's eyes were suddenly sad, regretful. "Oh Lord, when we showed up at the front door...?"

Luke nodded. "Yeah. We sort of panicked for a second before we knew it was you. And really-" he stopped for a moment when Noah shifted in his sleep, but he didn't wake up. "Really, we don't know how this ends. If we go back to Oakdale, will it make a difference? That family is still out there."

"We can make it so they can't bother him again," Emma whispered consolingly.

Luke shook his head. "But is that really a good thing either? To find out he has this whole other family, and never be able to see or speak to them ever again?"

"I don't know, sweetie," Emma said after a pause. "I wish I could see how this ends, but I can't. But," she reached out her free hand to touch the side of Luke's face. "I know that no matter what, he's always going to have us. So things won't be all bad. Honestly, look at all this that's happened. Legal barriers and several states can't keep us separated. I don't believe anything will."

Luke blinked hard against the moisture that had been threatening to fall since this whole mess had started. He studied Noah again, how open and relaxed his face was, how unguarded it made him look. Luke hated it a little, because he knew the second Noah woke up, that wall, that tension, would be back.

His free hand found its way to Noah's face, caressing lightly, glad that Noah didn't wake up from it. "It's not fair," he found himself saying. "Noah's one of us. Isn't he? He's earned it. He deserves it. But something like this happens, and... and..." he shook his head again. "He's a Snyder in everything but name. And it's like that's not enough when we need it to be."

Emma sighed, looking back and forth between them. "I forget sometimes," she began softly. "That he's not really, well, ours. If there was a way he could be, I'd do it in a heartbeat."

"Me too, Grandma," he smiled at that. 'Noah Snyder' had a nice ring to it. Noah had told him a few months ago that whenever they got married he was taking Luke's last name. And Luke had just said okay, because any more complex thought than that wasn't possible at the time.

Noah wanted to marry him. Noah thought about marrying him. The only thing he had seemed uncertain of was how Luke would react to Noah taking his name, like the whole marriage thing was a given. Just thinking about it now made Luke want to grab him, kiss him silly, and do other things he couldn't when Emma was in the room.

"And yet at the same time," Emma was still watching them both. "I know we'd have to convince him that we want it for him as much as he would."

"He wouldn't just take it as charity," Luke agreed, squeezing the hand he was holding. "He's kinda stubborn like that."

Emma snorted quietly with laughter. "And that sets him apart from Snyder men exactly how?"

Luke mock-glared at his grandmother. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, dear," she smiled sweetly. "Just that I'm glad you and your father talked."

His face softened involuntarily. "Yeah. Me too."

"See?" she said. "You can't keep us Snyders separated for long. It's impossible."

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Marcus watched, decidedly not fidgeting (really, what man his age fidgeted? Lucinda was crazy), as Tom finished up his argument in front of the judge. This had to work. It had to. If it didn't-

He shook his head, focusing back on Tom. "Your Honor, the proxy violates the patient's own civil rights, especially considering he had selected a next of kin to act as custodian and executor of his rights if he was unable."

Marcus glanced over at Margo, who was watching her husband intently. Margo had already testified, having done an investigation of Noah's "escape" from the hospital and determined that no laws were broken when he checked himself out AMA. She was nodding along with Tom now.

"In fact, Your Honor," he continued. "Further study of the proxy shows that it actually just prohibits anyone else from taking over decisions for Noah, but doesn't stop Noah from taking control back himself." He handed the paperwork over to the Bailiff, who handed it to the judge.

Marcus felt his fists clench at that. Because it meant that somebody lied to somebody at some point about all this medical custody business. And if he found out that Noah and the rest of this family were the ones who had been lied to... Well, okay, Marcus wasn't sure if there was anything he could do about it. But he'd damn sure be angry.

Tom was still laying down his case. "The fact that Noah thought to do this at all- the AMA papers, get himself clear of the hospital undetected- shows he's of sound mind and perfectly capable of making his own decisions."

There was a second of silence and the judge continued to look over the paperwork. After exchanging a nod with him, Tom thanked him and stepped down, taking a seat next to his wife. That meant it was Marcus's turn. He took a deep breath, which probably wouldn't have done anything for his nerves if it weren't for Lucinda calmly touching his hand just before his name was called.

Marcus cleared his throat as he stood before the judge. "I am speaking today on behalf of Noah Mayer, as I have been his clinical therapist for the last ten months. First and foremost, I have to say that no matter Noah's state of mind, he should be back here in Oakdale- where he clearly wants to be- under the watch of people he trusts. Anything else, especially considering what's happened since he was moved to Georgia, would be a detriment to his recovery."

He took another deep breath. "But whatever the case, Noah is of sound mind. And he can prove that himself." He stepped forward with his own paper, passing to over to the Bailiff per protocol. As the judge was studying it, he began talking once more. "That's a letter from Noah Mayer, signed and dated by his hand, which was then scanned and emailed to us yesterday." He mentally thanked Alison Stewart's brother for that one. "It's the best indication that the proxy should be lifted."

The judge nodded. "And it can be legally verified that this is Noah Mayer's signature?"

Tom stood up quickly. "It matches exactly with the signature in his medical records, Your Honor."

Marcus stopped himself from taking a step forward, even from leaning forward. "He clearly demonstrates that he is of sound mind and capable of making his own decisions. One, you may note, is to rectify this whole situation as soon as possible by granting his partner and his partner's family power of attorney for him. As long as you, Your Honor, rule in his favor."

The judge placed Noah's letter down in front of him, then eyed Marcus. "It has been brought to my attention, Dr. Weston, that in the previous proceedings for this case you were prohibited from being involved, because you were 'too close' to the patient."

He hoped he wasn't rolling his eyes. "With all due respect? This is Oakdale. That's pretty much unavoidable." He thought the judge might've smiled at that, but he didn't want to press his luck. "Please, Your Honor. This is a kid's life we're talking about. He just wants to come home."

The judge looked past him then, at the one person in the courtroom who hadn't testified before him. "And why are you here, Lucinda?"

Lucinda huffed grandly. "To prove that we mean business, Benji. And I'm willing to raise my voice if it will help."

The judge definitely smiled then, and it gave Marcus the courage to add one more thing. "The lawyer the Millers used in the 'previous proceedings,' is apparently unavailable now, because he's involved in some bribery investigation. And thanks to a few helpful nurses in Georgia-" and that Hunter boy again- "We have actual results of all of Noah's last tests in that hospital. As well as a report from an Oakdale Memorial doctor who recently examined him. Noah is perfectly fine."

He thanked the judge, and then reclaimed his seat next to Lucinda. Their hands automatically came together, though Lucinda's lioness face was concentrating on the judge. Speaking of which... "Benji?" he murmured out of the side of his mouth.

"Hush," she shot back immediately, not looking away. Though she did squeeze his hand a little tighter. And it almost looked like a smile on her face.

The judge cleared his throat, getting their attention. "After examining all of the evidence and testimony from today, it is clear to me that this young man is of sound, competent mind. Noah Mayer is hereby released from the medical proxy and custody over him." There were more official words, the banging of a gavel, and the four of them stood as the judge left the small courtroom.

And really, their standing had less to do with protocol and more to do with celebrating. Marcus gratefully shook Tom's hand, starting to feel some of the weight lift off his shoulders. He smiled when Margo grabbed Tom and kissed him hard, and turned to Lucinda.

She was off to the side, not celebrating, her cell phone out and pressed to her ear. She shook her head when he stepped closer. "Not yet, darling. I want to immediately get started on that next step. I want them all here. Now." She would have said more, but someone answered on the other end of the phone line. She smiled that smile she got whenever she won something big. "Holden? Pack your bags. All the bags in that house. You're coming home."

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Casey watched with a huge grin as Maddie hugged first Noah, then Luke, then Noah again, then Luke one more time. Finally the guys headed back in the house with one last goodbye and thanks, her telling them to shut up and call her soon.

Before she could grab her bag he picked it up for her, shouldering it and walking with her down to the end of the driveway where the cab would be arriving any minute. "Sorry we're not giving you a ride to the airport," he said again.

And again, she waved it away. "Hell no, it's way more important for you all to get home as soon as possible."

He smiled again. "How are you so... I don't know," he shrugged one shoulder awkwardly. "Thanks for coming and doing all this. Getting Noah out of that hospital, being so awesome with him since then. You're like a hero or something."

She stopped somewhere near the mailbox, giving him a funny look. "Are you crazy? Casey, you've been so amazing with both of them, I can hardly believe you're the same guy I once knew. I mean look at you, all responsible and student-y and everything. I'm impressed. It's like you've got all those good parts I remember about you, plus something else."

He wasn't used to this dynamic. He was the screw-up, Maddie was the queen. Her respecting him? Whoa. "What something else?"

Maddie studied him hard, smiling. "I don't know. But it's good. It's nice."

The cab pulled up just then, idling in the driveway. Casey followed Maddie to the door, still carrying her bag. "Thanks, I guess?"

She laughed, grabbing the bag from him and tossing it into the backseat. "You know, I never would've thought you and Noah would become so close, but I'm glad for it. You two are good for each other."

Casey smirked. "Jesus Maddie, you know he's with Luke, right? He and I could never be more than just-"

"And there's the guy I remember," she cut him off with an eye roll. They shared another smile.

"So how do you feel about this Hunter-Lucy thing?" he asked, only slightly teasing.

"There isn't a Hunter-Lucy thing," she said pointedly.

He shrugged. "Not yet. But we both know there will be, duh."

Maggie shrugged right back, mocking his. "Well, it's not exactly great to see the recent ex move on right in front of you, but whatever. I'm actually cool with it. I knew for a long time that we wouldn't last, and really- you can't help who you're drawn to." She grinned, exaggerated and wide, teasing. "Like you and Jade."

Casey fought against groaning or rolling his eyes. "The 'you and Jade' will only be a 'you and Jade' for as long as they can stand it. I kinda like the idea of taking some time not messing up how to be a boyfriend. Who knows how long this thing will last."

Maddie was still smiling as she pulled the cab's door opened wider. "Well, when you've gotten that, and her, out of your system... let me know. I won't be waiting around forever." She even dared to wink at him as she got into the backseat.

Casey's eyes went involuntarily wide at that, but he still stepped closer, smiling too. "I'd chase you forever," he admitted quietly. Really, truly, sincere.

Maddie shut the door, leaning out the open window. "I know." She kissed him on the cheek lightly. "That's why I'll wait." And with another grin, she was gone, the cab disappearing down the road and out of sight.

He stood at the end of the driveway for a minute, trying to actually contemplate what might've just happened. He made it back to the porch still smiling, but the second he opened the front door and found a pair of smirking blue eyes there waiting for him, he glared. "You say a word, man, and I'm breaking your other knee."

Noah just smiled, held up both hands peaceably, and followed him into the house.

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The car was really, really quiet. Luke stared out the window next to him, one hand clasped inside Noah's next to him. Noah was really, really quiet too. Had been ever since they left the house in North Carolina.

Casey, Jade, Hunter, and Lucy were returning their car to Atlanta and flying back to Oakdale in the jet. They had left an hour before the rest of them. So now it was Jack, Holden, Emma, and him and Noah in yet another Lucinda-provided SUV. Emma sitting up front with Holden driving, Jack crashed out in the middle seat. Leaving Luke and Noah the back to themselves.

But they weren't going straight to Oakdale.

Despite all of them desperately wanting to, there was another stop first. Jack had mentioned that the FBI and Military Police had raided the Mayer's old house in Fort Gordon in their investigation, and Noah had softly asked to see it.

None of them were sure if it was a good idea at first, Luke least of all, but Jack had agreed to it. He had pointed out to Holden (with Luke eavesdropping of course) that it might be a chance for Noah to get some semblance of closure on one part of his past. And really, it's not like Noah was going to come back this way anytime soon. Plus Jack had said by their records it looked like Noah had only spent two, maybe three, weeks at this house before the family relocated. It would be entirely possible he wouldn't remember or feel anything at all.

So here they were, driving through a boring, cookie-cutter neighborhood of army housing. Every home, every yard looked exactly the same. God it was really like this everywhere? On every base? In every country? Luke wanted to ask Noah, but saved it for another day.

They pulled into the driveway of one dark, empty house. He could feel Noah's hand tighten around his. They all piled out of the car, Noah studying the entire plot intently, but turned to Jack when he cleared his throat.

"Look, Noah..." he hesitated but kept going. "The investigators here, they found something in the backyard. It was a grave."

Emma made a small noise somewhere off to the side, but Luke kept his hand and concentration on his boyfriend. Noah just stared at Jack, jaw clenching a little. "A grave."

Jack nodded, looking about as regretful as a person could look. "The remains, the skeleton they found was of a toddler. The forensics people say it looks like he had a broken neck."

Luke stuttered in his breaths for just a second there. This was the... first Noah? Real Noah? What the hell were they supposed to call that poor little kid? "His neck was broken? W-was it...?" he couldn't stop himself from asking.

"No," Jack was quick to shake his head, eyes still focused on Noah. "No. They're guessing the kid fell from somewhere. An accident. But the Colonel and your- and Charlene just couldn't deal with the grief. With reality after that."

Noah looked down at his shoes, muscles still tight. He nodded shortly. "Okay."

"Hey," Jack's voice was soft. "I promised you no secrets between us. Much as I hate telling you all this, I have to." Noah nodded again, a little less tense. Jack echoed the nod, then continued. "The investigators already removed the remains. There's nothing there now, but-"

"Okay," Noah looked off to the side, away from all of them. "Can I go back there?"

Jack exchanged a quick glance with Luke before nodding, even though Noah wasn't looking at him. "Sure. We'll wait out front here," a look to Holden and Emma to convince them, but they were already nodding.

Luke, however, was doing no such thing. He squeezed Noah's hand in both of his, pulling it in close to his side. "Come on, let's go."

Noah didn't say anything, but his hand stayed firm in Luke's, and he led the way around the side of the house to the backyard. Luke wasn't sure what he was expecting, but it wasn't this. A nice, normal plain suburban-y backyard. It even had a god damn swing set and a picnic table.

He looked to Noah, but Noah was busy staring at something else. In the far back corner of the yard, surrounded by stakes and yellow crime tape, was a shallow, dugout ditch. Without speaking, they walk over to it, stopping just at the edge of the tape.

Luke was almost surprised when Noah started speaking. "Some, um, one of the dreams I've been having lately? I think it's a memory."

"Of what?" Luke asked quietly, barely above a whisper.

"Here," he answered simply. "At first all it was, was a taste and smell. Cherry. Not like, you know, actual cherries. But that fake, plastic cherry flavor." He rolled his lips between his teeth for a second before saying, "Like cough medicine."

His stomach dropped a little, but Luke couldn't get himself to say anything. Because there was no way that-

"I'm pretty sure they did, Luke," Noah read his thoughts. "When they first took me, brought me here? I-I think they made me take cough medicine. So I wouldn't cry as much or whatever." He gave a little shrug, a painful little smile. "Explains some things, doesn't it?"

It did. Luke knew it probably did explain Noah's aversion to sleeping pills and being drugged and all that. But he couldn't say it out loud. Instead he reached out, putting his hand on Noah's back, rubbing just a little. Noah leaned back into the touch, neither of them able to say anything for awhile.

And when Noah did, it wasn't at all what he expected. Noah gestured to the ditch in front of them. "What do you think he would've been like?"

It hit him in the center of his chest like a punch. "Noah..." This was so a dangerous road to go down.

"Would he have grown up to be, like, a scientist or something? Cured cancer? Or a famous athlete? Or a director like me?" Quieter, "Or someone just like the Colonel?" He kicked at a rock near his foot.

Luke wasn't sure what to say, so he went with honesty. "I don't know."

Noah kept talking. "What if he had been gay? Would he have admitted it right away? Not let himself be bullied for so many years? Or would he have been just as much of a wuss as I was?"

Luke had no idea what he could say, and he had a feeling Noah wasn't done getting this all out, these thoughts that had been festering for however long.

"What if he had shown up in Oakdale three years ago instead of me? Would you have met him? Would you..." Luke could hear the Would you have fallen in love with him? that he couldn't say. But then Noah kept talking, voice broken. "If he had had my life, would he have screwed up the same things I did? Or been better? What if Noah Mayer was supposed to be some incredible person- and I let him down. I wasted his life."

"No, no way." He stepped forward then. "You have not wasted anything, you understand me?"

Noah sat down shakily on the bench of the picnic table, covering his face with both hands. "God, Luke, I really am a horrible person. You know part of me can't regret that he died and I took his place?"

That stopped Luke in his tracks. "What? What do you mean?" He dared to come a little closer.

"If he hadn't kidnapped me…" Noah gave a little laugh even as he spoke, like he still couldn't believe that this was his reality. "If the Colonel hadn't taken me, I never would have met you. How messed up is that?" He wiped at his face hurriedly, unable to look up at Luke.

Luke stared down at him, breathing slowly. A part of him couldn't believe he had never thought of that before. But then he shook his head and crouched down in front of the bench, one hand reaching out to force Noah to look at him. "First of all, doesn't matter. We would've met anyway."

Noah bit his lip desperately, hopefully. "We would?"

He nodded confidently. "Of course! God, Noah, what we have... what we are together?" He paused so he could cup Noah's face in one hand, kiss his forehead. "It's stronger than all that. It wouldn't matter where you are or where I am. What our names are. We'd find each other." He waited a few seconds. "And it doesn't mean you're a horrible person. I know you, and I know you'd never actually wish something like this on anyone. It just is what it is, baby. And you've come out of this situation as a good, loving, wonderful person. Which is perfect enough for me."

Noah still couldn't look him in the face, his expression twisted into something like embarrassment and frustration. "Wow, guess I'll have tons of stuff to talk to Dr. Weston about, won't I?"

Luke couldn't smile, couldn't treat this like a joke. "If it helps you understand all this, then yeah."

And suddenly without warning Noah was holding his face with both hands, staring into his eyes seriously. "Luke, I just... I need you to know how grateful I am that I ever met you. How lucky I-"

Luke shut him up with a kiss, kinda hoping and kinda knowing it would be enough for Noah to know that Luke was lucky too. They came up for air together and then kissed again, Luke slowly rising to his feet just enough to settle onto the bench next to Noah. He was halfway impressed that he managed to do that without breaking contact with Noah's mouth.

They finally pulled back, if just a few inches. Luke wove his hand through Noah's hair, resting on the back of his head. Noah looked back at him, still breathing a little heavy, one of his hands cradled at the side of Luke's neck. He laughed for a second then, shaking his head at Luke's questioning look. "I feel like I should apologize for always needing to be coddled like this."

Luke fought back the anger that briefly flashed in his brain, anger at Noah's doubts and the people who put those doubts there. "Right," he snorted. "Because it's not like I've ever needed it from you before."

"Doesn't feel like it lately," Noah mumbled. He was about to drift away again, so Luke pulled him back.

"Well it's true," he said, nudging Noah's shoulder with his own. "Partners means more than sharing kitchen duties and utility bills, lover."

The smile that appeared on Noah's face was sweet and almost hopeful at the same time. "You hold my hand, I hold yours."

His legs shook at the relief that Noah got it, and the perfect simplicity of the statement. "Exactly. And we don't let go." They both leaned in, shoulders and heads resting against each other.

Movement out of the corner of his eye had Luke turning his head just slightly, not enough for Noah to really notice. Holden was standing at the corner of the house, watching them. His expression was dark and sad enough for Luke to know he'd been standing there for awhile. He nodded to Luke, then silently headed back to the front of the house.

Luke goes back to studying Noah, the exhausted, heavy set to his shoulders. He hadn't realized until now that there was a lot more going on in Noah's head then just crazy family drama. This went a lot deeper. He brushed the hair off Noah's forehead, getting his attention. "You ready to go?"

Noah took a deep breath, breathing out with his answer. "Yeah." They stood together, unwilling and unable to let go of each other. Noah turned his back to the grave, touched the side of Luke's face gently, and pulled him in for one more lingering kiss. "Yeah," he said again. "Let's go home."

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TO BE CONTINUED!

Coming Up:

-Noah tries to adjust to life back in Oakdale

-Luke confronts Damian

-a trip to Statesville by more than one person

-someone shows up looking for Noah