Chapters 119 & 120
Chapter 119 Aftershocks
Kelly's diner, closed for family emergency.
Emily runs into Lucky's arms as soon as he clears the door to Kelly's. "Lucky! I was so afraid that Carly wouldn't be able to get you out of jail..." Carly, who comes in behind Lucky, gives them some privacy by making herself scarce by going into the kitchen.
Lucky crushes Emily against his chest in a fierce bear hug. "Nothing to worry about, Em. Can't keep a Spencer down for long. This is just a temporary setback."
Emily breaks away, stroking his face gently as she searches for bruises. "I was so scared that Stefan might have hurt you during the fight, but there doesn't seem to be a scratch on you."
"Nope, Count Vlad didn't stand a chance against me. Just a few bruised knuckles is all." Lucky gives her a smug grin, but his eyes tell a different story. Now that the overwhelming rage is gone, what's left is bitter devastation; he looks like a man who's aged ten years.
Emily raises his bruised knuckles to her lips. "I'm so sorry, Lucky," she says, talking about much more than his knuckles.
Carly interrupts long enough to hand Lucky a kitchen towel full of ice. "Here you go, Lucky. For your knuckles."
"Thanks, Carly," Emily responds appreciatively. Lucky and Emily grab a nearby table, where Emily presses the kitchen towel gently on Lucky's knuckles. "Is it really true? Your mom's pregnant by Stefan and she's planning on marrying him?"
Lucky clenches his jaw in helpless anger and he stares off into space. "Yeah, it's true. My mom's single-handedly destroyed the family. I never thought in a millions years she's turn her back on us."
"Not all of us, Bucko." Carly protests lightly.
Emily blinks back sympathetic tears. "I wish there was something I could do to help. What will you do now?"
Lucky squeezes her hand. "I need to get out of Port Charles, this town is too cramped for me. Come with me, Emily. We could see the country, go anywhere we want, do anything we want."
"You can't go anywhere until the charges are dropped, Lucky," Carly pipes up from behind the lunch counter. She can be seen rustling up some sandwiches.
"You can't be serious about leaving town, Lucky!" Emily exclaims. "I mean, you have a lot of friends here, and the club. And then there's your sister."
"Who I'll be lucky to get to see on holidays," Lucky answers bitterly. "And then only if I want to go to Wyndemere. Besides, Spencers always do best on the open road."
"Maybe things will look differently when you have a chance to sort things through," Emily says hopefully.
Carly comes over to their table with two plates of sandwiches. "I have a sneaking suspicion that this is one of those situations where you never get over it. Here, thought you two might like something to eat. Lucky, would you like me to pick up some of your things from the house?"
Lucky slouches back in his chair and pokes at the sandwich. "Yeah, you can pack up my room. I'm never going back there."
"In that case, maybe I'll take Benny." Carly kisses Lucky on top of the head before leaving. "Emily, you'll hang out with Lucky while I'm gone?"
Emily gives Lucky a brave smile. "Absolutely, I'm not going anywhere."
Laura stares aghast at a battered and worn Stefan who's leaning a hand against the doorjamb of her front door. His face sports a rapidly forming black eye, a bandaged cut above his eye, and a split lip. Her hand flies to her mouth. "Oh my God, Lucky..."
Stefan puts his free hand up as a sign for her to stop. "I kept my promise, Lasha. I didn't lay a hand on him."
Laura closes her mouth quickly, the look of alarm quickly changing to supplicance. She takes his hand and helps him into the freshly vacuumed living room and leads him to the couch. "I'm... I'm at a loss for words. I knew he was very angry, but I never imagined this... I'm.. I'm sorry he did this to you. Maybe if I handled things differently..."
Stefan sits down gingerly, suppressing a grimace of pain with effort."There is no reason for you to apologize, you're not responsible for your son's actions. I'm just relieved that you are alright and that I appear to be bearing the brunt of his rage. You haven't seen him since?"
"No." Laura inadvertently glances at the now empty end table which Lucky had overturned earlier. "I have a feeling I won't be seeing him, and I don't think he'll be bothering you again. Lucky isn't by nature violent, only in extreme circumstances. Do you need anything for your eye or your lip? Perhaps you should see a doctor," She adds worriedly, noting his ghostly pallor.
"I've had quite enough of doctors for tonight, thank you. There is nothing wrong with me that a little rest won't cure." Stefan takes her hand between his. "Enough about the ridiculous altercation, I came to see how you were doing. You sounded very upset on the phone when we spoke."
Laura looks him over, still not convinced that he shouldn't see a doctor, but the stubborn look in his eyes makes her relent and drop the subject. "Like I said before, my conversation with Lucky went about as badly as I could have imagined. I had hoped if I could explain it to him alone... it's not that I thought he'd really accept it, I just hoped to keep him from doing something impulsive. Do you have any idea where he might have gone afterwards?"
Now comes the hard part, he dreads having to tell her about Lucky's arrest. Taking a deep steadying breath for courage, Stefan says. "Lasha, there's something I have to tell you."
Benny and Carly drive up in front of the Spencer homestead. Across the street they notice a black limo with it's lights off but a chauffeur inside. Carly frowns. "Didn't take him long to get here. Good thing Lucky didn't want to come along."
"That's Stefan Cassadine's limo?" Benny asks. "Never met the man. Is he as bad as Lucky and his father claimed?"
"Yes and no," Carly answers. "Stefan Cassadine is capable of just about anything short of cold blooded murder. But under the right circumstances, he'd kill too. In fact, he killed his uncle Victor back when Lulu was kidnapped and his nephew Nikolas was in danger. Given what the Cassadine family has done to the Spencer family, Lucky has good reason to be irrational. Why don't you stay here? I'll just get a suitcase of stuff and we can come back later when he's gone."
"Sure, you're the boss." Benny leans back in the driver seat and closes his eyes when Carly exits the car.
Inside, Laura is waiting for Stefan to explain when the door bell rings. Stefan sighs heavily and waves her toward the door. "What I'm about to say will take some explanation, go ahead and answer it."
Laura leaves Stefan sitting stiffly on the couch to answer the door. "Carly! Is Lucky with you?"
"Hi, Laura," Carly says politely, letting Laura usher her in. "Lucky's back at the diner. And even if he were with me, he couldn't come in."
Stefan forces himself to stand. "Miss Roberts," He says with stiff politeness.
Carly stares at Stefan with barely concealed hostility. "Mr Cassadine."
"Wait, what do you mean, Lucky couldn't come here?" Laura asks, wringing her hands anxiously. "This is his home."
"Hasn't Mr Cassadine informed you? Lucky was arrested for assault. One of the conditions of him being released on bail is a restraining order barring any contact with Mr Cassadine."
Laura looks back and forth from Carly and Stefan for confirmation. "Stefan? Is this true? Did you have Lucky arrested for assaulting you?"
Stefan glowers at Carly, who smiles back at him in grim triumph. "I can't stay long, I have a friend outside. I just came by to pack a few things for Lucky. I'll be back for the rest of his things tomorrow morning, when you don't have visitors. Congratulations on your engagement, Laura. " Carly doesn't wait for an answer, but instead climbs the stairs to Lucky's bedroom.
"Stefan?" Laura asks him impatiently.
"Yes, Lucky was arrested for assaulting me, but I had no part in it. After the fight, Alan insisted I be checked out in the ER. I found out about the arrest afterwards and I sent Nikolas to clear up the matter. By that time, Carly had already posted bail for Lucky."
Laura covers her face with her hands in anguish. "My baby..."
"Laura?!" Stefan whispers fearfully.
Laura shakes her head when she realizes Stefan's misunderstanding. "The baby is fine. I meant Lucky." She walks numbly to the couch as she absorbs the news. "This is what you were going to tell me right before Carly came in?"
Stefan nods. "Yes, I was hoping by the time I told you, the charges would already be dropped so I could reassure you. But it seems that the American justice system doesn't work after hours. Nikolas phoned me while I was riding over here, Alexis is calling Judge Markum at home." As if on cue, Stefan's cell phone rings. "Cassadine.... Yes, Alexis. Is it resolved?"
"No, I'm afraid not, Stefan." Alexis replies. "Judge Markum says he can't help at this stage. The DA is the one who decides whether or not charges are filed or dropped. I'm sorry I couldn't do more. Judge Markum did say that you have to go to the DA in person to petition the charges be dropped. I'd be happy to accompany you."
"Yes, I could use your expertise to cut through the red tape. Good night, Alexis. I will pick you up first thing in the morning." Stefan closes his phone. "Alexis says the charges can't be dropped until tomorrow. I'm sorry, Lasha. If I could have prevented this..."
"I know, Stefan," Laura says sadly. "And I appreciate it. Lucky got himself into this mess by assaulting you. There are just some things that even you can't control."
Alexis sits on the living room sofa after hanging up the phone. The lights flicker on and off briefly, causing her to smile. "All I need now is Sonny, a thunderstorm, and a fire in the fireplace....."
Alexis paces the farmhouse, rubbing her arms from the chill. With the exception of a few candles and the fire in the fireplace, it is completely dark. Sonny sits in front of the fire, watching with mild amusement as Alexis paces like a caged animal. Outside, a fierce storm rages. The wind gusts hit the farmhouse with enough force to shake it. Alexis jumps when lightning flashes through the windows.
"Afraid of storms?" Sonny ventures gently.
Alexis looks at him crossly. "No, I just don't like being trapped in a farmhouse that doesn't have power with a man I don't want to have anything to do with! Why couldn't you just leave me alone? I could be in Hawaii right now enjoying the sun and the beaches."
Sonny stifles a chuckle at Alexis' tirade and rises from his place by the fire. "You ARE afraid of storms. Who would have thunk it? I'm sorry that the power went out, but there's nothing I can do about it right now."
Alexis scowls at him. "You can call your goons and send me back to town, that's what you can do! I want to go home."
Sonny shakes his head and closes the gap between them. "Nope, not tonight and not until I get some answers from you. Besides, I don't have a cell phone. I figured you'd be resourceful enough to get a hold of it. One of my 'goons', as you call them, will be back in the morning." Sonny holds out his hand for her. "C'mon, sit by the fire with me. You're freezing. I won't bite.. well not hard anyway."
One look into Sonny's eyes dancing with humor and Alexis is lost. Besides she suspects if she doesn't relent he'll take more drastic measures and drag her to the fire. She takes his outstretched hand and lets him lead her to the fire.
Alexis kneels in front of it, putting her hands closer to warm them. Sonny kneels behind her and begins to rub her shoulders. "You're tense, Counselor," Sonny comments softly. "Much too tense."
Alexis sighs and gives herself over to the massage. It has taken all her energy to resist Sonny's relentless campaign up to this point, and it is becoming increasingly obvious that she just doesn't have the stamina to wait him out. And if she's completely honest with herself, she has to admit that a part of her doesn't want to win despite the risk to both of them... that same part that believes he can protect them from anything, that she can trust him.
Sonny brushes his lips along her neck gently, causing her to shiver. "What are you thinking about, Alexis?"
"How nice this feels," She replies with a languid sigh. And it does feel nice, too nice. Sonny's fingers cease the muscle massage and begin a erotic campaign, beginning with stroking her neck and tracing the edges of her blouse to the top button.
"How's that?" Sonny asks.
Alexis leans her head back so that it's resting on his shoulder and she is looking into his eyes. "Mmmmm, very promising, but I think I need more information, Mr Corinthos."
Sonny gives her a lazy grin and slowly unbuttons her blouse while he kisses her upturned mouth. "And now?" He asks again as he pulls the blouse off her shoulders.
Alexis lets the blouse fall to the floor and raises her hands to capture his face and pull it towards hers for a hard demanding kiss. "Very.... nice. And what are you thinking about, Mr Corinthos?"
Sonny shifts her body and leans her back against the soft throw pillows on the floor. He stretches out his body on top of hers and captures her mouth again with his, pausing long enough to say, "I think I'm going to enjoy making love to you, Baby. And I'm going to keep on making love to you until you admit you love me."
Alexis threads her fingers through his hair and smiles up at him. "Now that could take a while."
"I'm hoping it will, Sweetheart. I'm hoping it will."
Chapter 120 It's All Over Town
The next morning, Lulu bounces down the stairs dressed in her school clothes. Laura is waiting for her in the living room. "Mommy, is Nikolas coming for a visit today?" Lulu asks.
"I'm not sure, Honey." Laura pats the seat beside her. "Come here and sit beside me, I have something to tell you."
Lulu climbs onto the couch next to her mother. "What's up, Mommy?"
"I have some big news, that I hope you'll be happy about." Laura smooths out Lulu's hair and smiles at her gently. "Stefan and I have decided to get married."
"Really?!" Lulu exclaims. "When?"
"Yes, Sweetheart. Very very soon. Stefan and I haven't set a date." Laura cups Lulu's chin. "Does this make you happy?"
"Oh Yes!" Lulu says enthusiastically. "It's like a dream come true. Are you doing this for me, Mommy?"
Laura nods slightly. "In part. But I have another very important reason. I'm going to be having a baby. In about 5 months, you will have a little baby sister or brother."
Lulu's mouth hangs open in astonishment. "Wow! I always wanted to be a big sister. I'll be a good one too, Mommy. The bestest one in the whole wide world."
Laura hugs Lulu tightly. "I'm sure you will, Punkin, but I want you to know you'll always be my little girl. This baby isn't replacing you."
"I can't wait to tell Georgie," Lulu exclaims, her eyes shining with excitement.
Laura bites her lip anxiously. "Lulu, I know this is going to be hard, but I don't want you to tell anyone about this just yet."
"But I thought you said it's not good to keep secrets?"
"Yes, I know I said that and you're right. But it's not a secret exactly. It's a surprise. You understand about keeping quiet about surprises until the time is right?"
"Sort of like a birthday surprise?" Lulu asks.
Laura nods. "Exactly like that... like Nikolas finding out about his birthday present from Emily before he opens his present. Do you understand?"
"Okay, Mommy," Lulu agrees, making Laura sag with relief. "But I won't have to keep the surprise too long, will I?"
Laura tousles Lulu's hair playfully. "No, I know how hard it is for you to keep quiet, especially with Georgie. Just a day or two. Now why don't you go grab your lunch box from the kitchen?"
While Lulu runs into the kitchen to grab her lunch box, Laura walks over to the fireplace to look at the picture of Lucky on the mantle. "I hope you're okay where ever you are."
Carly and Bobbie sit at the counter at Kelly's sharing a pot of coffee. Carly has just filled Bobbie in on the details of the latest gossip.
"I can't believe it," Bobbie says between sips of coffee. "Laura's pregnant with Stefan's baby? I mean everyone saw how he tried to take care of her after Luke died, but I had no idea she returned his feelings. And to turn up pregnant with his kid? Never mind how this defiles my brother's memory, but didn't she even think to use protection for God's sake? She's a little old to be forgetting about birth control."
"My guess is she wasn't thinking much at all," Carly counters quietly. "I'm just worried about what this has done to Lucky. He isn't saying much, but I can tell he's devastated."
Bobbie continues her indignant outrage. "What was Laura thinking? That she'd decide to marry Stefan and Lucky would just roll over like a lap dog? That woman likes to think she's God's gift to parenting, but the damage she's done to her children is abominable!"
"I suppose she thinks she's doing what's best for the baby, but to leave Lucky out in the cold like this..." Carly shakes her head unhappily. "Stefan must have some powerful magic."
"Oh, he does. Believe me. I should know, I married him knowing how much Luke hated him, and how much the whole town feared him." Bobbie takes another sip to contemplate the situation. "Stefan can make a woman feel like she's the most beautiful, most cherished woman on earth. And he preys on a woman when she's at her most vulnerable, when she's the most scared. My guess is that's what he's done with Laura. And he'd use every dirty trick to get Laura, he's wanted her for years... and now he's got her."
"What a great way to wake up in the morning," says a bleary-eyed Lucky as he scowls at them from the bottom of the steps. "I haven't even had my pot of coffee and I'm hearing about Count Vlad and his hold over my mother. It's enough to make me hurl, even on an empty stomach."
Bobbie eyes soften apologetically and she walks over to hug him. "I'm sorry, Lucky. I should have been more sensitive."
Lucky returns her hug briefly before heading to the counter to get some coffee. "Forget it, as long as we talk about anything but HIM."
Carly hands him a mug of coffee and shoves a plate of sweet rolls in front of him. "Deal. Eat something with that."
Lucky shoves the plate away and says with forced lightness, "What? And ruin a good caffeine high? You have to be kidding!"
"Think of the sugar buzz," Carly jokes, shoving the plate at him again.
"Where's Emily?" Bobbie asks, finally finding a safe topic.
Lucky gulps the coffee down and puts the mug out for more. "Hit me again, Carly. She's taking a shower. She has this silly notion that she should look presentable before getting her coffee."
Carly pours him more coffee. "So what are your plans for this morning?"
"Well, since murdering the Count is out, I'm not sure. I suppose the first order of business should be finding myself a place to live. Though I suppose I can live out of my office at Luke's temporarily."
"Don't be silly!" Bobbie and Carly scold in unison.
Lucky cocks an eyebrow. "You two related?"
"Come stay at the Brownstone, there's plenty of room," Bobbie offers.
"Thanks Aunt Bobbie, but I can't. Mom visits the Brownstone all the time. The less I see her the better. At least for right now."
"Then stay here at Kelly's. There's plenty of room in my apartment," Carly adds. "Besides, AR likes having you around. Please. You'd actually be helping me out."
Lucky shrugs his assent. "Maybe for a few days, till I figure out what I'm going to do."
Monica, Alan, Edward, and Lila share the living room at breakfast time. Alan has just regaled them with the story of the brawl between Lucky and Stefan and the events leading up to it.
"That Spencer kid is a chip off the old block... a hothead," Edwards says gruffly. "Can't say I blame him for punching Stefan Cassadine out. Wanted to do it myself a couple years ago."
"Poor Lucky, he must be so upset by all this," Lila says sympathetically. "I'm so glad he has sweet Emily to help him through this."
Monica wraps her arm around Alan's large waist affectionately. "I'm just glad he didn't hurt you when you tried to pull him off Stefan."
Alan squeezes Monica's shoulder back. "I'm telling you, the number he did on Stefan was quite thorough... cracked ribs, mild concussion, cuts needing stitches. It was odd, Stefan hardly defended himself, and given his fitness, he should have easily taken Lucky on. You'd almost think it was intentional."
"It makes perfect sense to me," Lila says sagely. "It is ungentlemanly to brawl with your fiance's son."
"I cannot believe that sweet Laura is throwing in with the likes of that scoundrel. You don't have to marry the father of your child in this day and age, especially when the father is a Cassadine! What is she thinking?!"
"I'm sure she knows exactly what she's doing," Lila replies with confidence. "She's not only sweet, she's remarkably intelligent. Wouldn't you agree, Monica dear?"
"Yes, Lila, I'm sure you're right. Laura wouldn't make a decision of this magnitude without thinking long and hard. I have to say I'm a bit surprised that she's decided to marry him given my conversation with her on the subject only a week ago. I just hope she's making the right decision."
"Hey, Lucky!" Mike calls after Lucky as Lucky slams through the door and heads towards the back office without so much as a hello. "I need you to look over these end of the month figures...."
"I don't have time for your crap today, Mike," Lucky snaps. "Just stay out of my face!"
The slam of the back office door causes the glasses above the bar to jangle. Mike raises his eyebrows. "Well he's sure got his underwear in a twist," He mutters to himself. Never one to obey a warning, Mike heads toward the back office.
"Didn't I tell you to leave me the hell alone?!" Lucky says when he notices Mike in the doorway.
Mike crosses his arms, making it clear he's not going to back down. "And didn't I tell you I wouldn't tolerate this attitude? Tell me what's going on... NOW."
Lucky slams the desk drawer shut and stands up. "Oh, so it's mess with Lucky day? I'd think even you'd have enough sensitivity to leave me alone after what's happened. But I guess I overestimated you yet again."
"What's happened?"
Lucky rolls his eyes dramatically. "Stop the innocent game, Corbin. I know Cassadine told you. Heck, I'm sure it was under the pretense of looking after me. Well, now you've seen me, so get the hell out of my office!"
"I told you I don't work for Cassadine anymore. So why don't you humor me and tell me what Cassadine's done now?" Mike says calmly, refusing to let Lucky bait him.
Lucky's eyes blaze with helpless rage. "Fine, you want to torture me by making me say it outloud, then so be it. Cassadine got my mom pregnant and she's going to marry him. Satisfied?"
Mike gives a low whistle and sinks into the seat across from the desk. "Damn, I had no idea. I'm surprised Stefan's still alive given how you feel about him."
"I didn't ask you to stay!" Lucky complains, then flops down into the desk chair. "He'd be dead if they hadn't pulled me off him last night. Should have killed him with that gun when I had a chance. Then none of this would have happened."
"I know this isn't worth much coming from me, but I'm sorry, Lucky. I really am. You didn't deserve this."
Lucky shoots him a look of pure hatred."You're right, it isn't worth your sorry breath. Now get the hell out of my office, Man. Looking at you just makes me want to kill Cassadine even more. This town is ruined for me. There are damn Cassadines everywhere I turn."
Laura stands anxiously at the doorstep to the Brownstone waiting for Bobbie to answer the doorbell. When Bobbie opens the door with her usual expectant smile, Laura says, "Bobbie, I have something... "
Bobbie's smile fades immediately and turns to hard granite. "I have nothing to say to you, Laura." She slams the door in Laura's face.
Laura pounds on the door futilely and starts to cry. "Bobbie, please! Just let me explain. Please... I need your help with Lucky."
The racket Laura's making and her own desire to tell Laura off finally gets the better of Bobbie. With a frustrated shrug of her shoulders, she cracks open the door. "Laura, really, making this kind of scene is tacky even for you. Just go home. Or better yet, go let Stefan hold your hand. You two deserve each other."
Laura brushes away the tears. "Please, Bobbie. I'm not asking this for me. It's for Lucky! I know he's upset and..."
Bobbie's lips press into a thin line. "You better believe he's upset, Laura. He can't even stand to hear your name mentioned. You've broken your son's heart. Do you have any idea what kind of damage you've done? Oh wait, you should know. You've abandoned a son for a man before. I guess it was just Lucky's turn this time! How can you stand to live with yourself?"
Laura's face crumples completely as Bobbie's condemnation hits home. "I ... I never wanted to hurt him. I thought I was doing what's best..."
"It's always the same pathetic excuse, Laura. I wonder when you're going stop pretending that you know what's best for your children? When you break Lulu's heart? Or will it be the new baby? I don't have the time to waste on you. Of course I'll help Lucky, he's family. And unlike you, I never turn my back on my family." Having said her piece, Bobbie slams the door again in Laura's face.
