AN: Disclaimers, notes, explanations, and recriminations are found in Chapter 1

When: Picks up immediately from the previous chapter, when Lily presented Holden with a special birthday cake


March 1, 2012 (continued)

"If you don't give me an answer sometime soon, I'm going to start worrying," Lily joked to a thus far unresponsive Holden.

Looking up from the cake he'd been staring at, Holden met Lily's eyes with his own. Instead of giving Lily his answer verbally, he took the love of his life within his arms, pressing a kiss so passionate to Lily's lips that eventually, their daughter protested in horror.

"Dad, get a room!"

The scolding effect of Faith's voice was ruined by the beaming smile on her face. When her mother married Damien, it seemed the hope of her parents reuniting was nothing but a pipe dream. Now, her fondest wish was about to be fully realized.

Coming up for air, Holden finally said the word that would bring him back with Lily for good, this time; of that he was certain.

"Yes! In case I didn't get that across just now-"

"Oh, you definitely did," Lily injected, her face reddening at the intensity of the kiss Holden had bestowed upon her in front of their kids - and their mothers!

Meanwhile, Luke turned an accusing look on Noah. "You knew!"

Noah confirmed the charge. "I knew."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Noah smiled at Luke's affronted tone. "Because, it was supposed to be a secret until now. And I thought it would be easier for you to keep the secret if you didn't know it."

Luke considered protesting, but for the fact that they both knew what Noah said was true. Luke wouldn't be able to sit on something like that without talking about it. The way things worked in Oakdale, he would inevitably be overheard, and the news would get back to Holden, effectively ruining the surprise.

Still, he hated being left out of the loop, even if the loop apparently consisted of only two people - Lily and Noah. But his parents' happiness and siblings' joy wiped out any trace of annoyance. Like he and Noah, Luke's mom and dad had found their way back to one another. At that thought, a question popped into his mind.

"So will you guys be getting hitched before or after me and Noah?"

Lily and Noah shared a conspiratorial smile, which Luke immediately picked up on.

"Wait - what else are you guys not telling us?"

Holden echoed his son's query. "I'd like to know that myself!"

Lily took Holden's hand within her own, then took in a deep breath, hoping he would like her idea. "Well," she began. "I was thinking… since the boys are here anyway, and we kept our weekend free for their visit… how's Saturday?"

Holden did a double-take. "This Saturday? As in, two days from now?" He paused, pretending to consider his answer carefully, then allowed a beaming smile to spread across his face. "As a matter of fact, this Saturday will be perfect!"

A collective celebratory cheer rang throughout the kitchen. Emma, unable to hold back expressing her own elation any longer, grasped both Holden and Lily in her embrace. Natalie explained to Ethan that their mom and dad were getting married, prompting him to clap excitedly.

And Luke pulled Noah close, melting into his arms. So, maybe Noah had kept him in the dark, but it was for a good cause. And Luke was going to get to see his parents remarry this weekend!

Eventually, everyone had their chance to hug the happy couple. Lucinda congratulated Lily not only on her imminent nuptials, but on her flawless execution of the surprise for Holden that had surprised them all. "Marvelous, darling," she lauded.

Grabbing Holden's arm, Lucinda continued, "there isn't another one like this. Don't let go, dear." Looking up at Holden, she added firmly, "either of you!"

Holden hugged his once-and-future mother-in-law. "We won't," he vowed.

Lucinda smiled approvingly, then to lighten the deep emotion of the moment, changed the subject. "It's still your birthday, too. And I believe we have presents for you, young man!" Holden mused inwardly that both Lucinda and his own mother were good for his ego, since they persisted in pointing out his youth, even though he was about to become a grandparent.

Each loved one offered Holden a birthday gift. Some were funny, and some practical, but all were chosen with care for the man who was unquestionably the glue of their family. When Holden unwrapped the final gift, from Luke, he dissolved into laughter. If Emma and Lucinda made him feel young, at least he had his son to remind him that he wasn't.

"Really, Luke?" Holden feigned grave offense.

"Yeah, I mean, I know it's what all the geezers love," Luke cracked.

Holden snickered, "You're a stinker, just so you know." He held the package up for everyone to see.

Luke cackled with delight as his fiancée looked on in confusion. "I don't get it," Noah finally said.

"It's a long story," Luke answered.

When Luke was around Ethan's age, he'd wanted to find an amazing gift for his dad's upcoming birthday. Lily had promised to take him shopping, and Luke was afraid he wouldn't think of a great present in time. One day, though, he saw a television ad that gave him the perfect idea.

In the commercial, a family was celebrating a grandfather's birthday. As the party scene played out, the grandpa oohed and aahed over each present he received. The final gift was given by a small boy around Luke's age, and when the man opened the gift, he gave his grandson a teary smile.

"My word," the grandfather said with emotion. "Just like your dad gave me when he was your age." The man then opened his arms, and the boy was gratefully pulled into his granddad's embrace.

Little Luke thought this must be an incredibly special gift to cause such emotion in an adult. He wanted his dad to be so happy that he cried, too! So when Lily took him to the department store, Luke immediately asked to buy what he'd seen in the commercial. Lily raised an eyebrow, amused by the choice, but verbally endorsed the selection, and made Luke feel grown-up by allowing him to pay.

When they got home, his mother helped Luke wrap the thoughtfully chosen gift. He spent the next few days crawling out of his skin in the run-up to the big day. He couldn't wait to give his dad such an awesome present!

Finally, Holden's birthday arrived. Luke wanted his present opened first. But he remembered that in the commercial, the boy had saved his gift for last, since it was the best. So Luke resolved to do likewise.

When it came time for Holden to open Luke's gift, the boy stood breathless with anticipation, right beside his father's seat at the table. Holden pulled off the painstakingly (if crookedly) wrapped paper slowly, amused at Luke's very visible excitement. As he read the box, a surprised Holden recovered quickly, enthusing, "Wow. WOW, sport!"

He lifted the box to show the family. Immediately, his brothers snickered, recognizing it was the same gift they used to get for their grandfather. Luke was confused by the reactions around the table. He looked to his dad, who was smiling down at him.

"Thank you, buddy! This is just what I needed!"

Holden seemed happy, but didn't appear to understand the importance of the present, so little Luke helpfully explained. "It's 'Old Spice'! Because you're old now!"

Of course, for someone as young as Luke, becoming old equated to becoming big and strong, and was indeed a very great thing. To the adults in the room, though, Luke had unwittingly pranked his dad even better than Holden's brothers could've ever hoped to. Predictably, they burst into raucous laughter at Luke's innocent comment.

Taking this in, a perplexed Luke once again looked to his father, who by now had covered his face with both hands, his shoulders shuddering. "Daddy?", Luke questioned worriedly, fearful he hadn't chosen a wonderful gift, after all.

It took everything in Holden to collect himself and control his own silent laughter. Eventually, he calmed, and lowered his hands. Luke gasped in awe as he saw that just like in the commercial, his gift had brought tears to his father's eyes.

"Happy Birthday, Daddy!" Luke bounded into Holden's lap happily, and Holden clenched him tightly, ruffling his blonde mop lovingly. Of course, Luke sweetly assumed his spectacular gift choice had moved his father to tears. And in truth, it had; just not quite in the way the boy believed at the time.

"The Old Spice Incident" became the stuff of Snyder legend. Holden's brothers would bring it up anytime they wanted to razz him, pretending to sniff him, then making some snarky comment, such as "Yep, still old." And Luke continued to give Holden the same present for a number of years, until he finally grew up enough to realize how lame it actually was.

Still, that realization did nothing to take away from the memories of those birthdays. Luke simply came to understand, it wasn't the contents of the gift that had made his dad so happy, but just Luke being Luke. And knowing his dad loved him not despite his naiveté, but in part because of it, was the greatest gift of all.