Chapters 17 & 18

 

Chapter 17: Come Home

Two months later.

Dear Lucky,

God, I wish I knew where you were. I miss you more than I thought I could miss anyone after my mom died. I keep wondering if you're okay, and if you've forgotten all about me.

So much has happened these few months you've been gone. I don't live at Kelly's anymore. You'd be shocked, I'm sure, but it's really for the best. Dad hired a lawyer to take me to court and force me back home. Jason put me in touch with Alexis, who agreed to take my case if I babysat little Stone (I knew it was charity, but how was I to say no when I was so desperate?). Anyway, a couple days before the hearing Grandfather suffered a stroke. Dad says it's technically called a TIA, a mini stroke, but basically it scared the heck out of all of us. After a few days of slurred speech, Grandfather is back to his normal grumpy self for the most part.

That's why I decided to move back home. Grandfather, for all his blustering, was terrified by the whole thing. He's more careful with his diet and stress level, and now only attends board meetings, leaving the day to day running of ELQ to Justus. Would you believe Jason stepped in for a while to help Justus out? He wouldn't have if Justus and Grandmother hadn't pleaded with him. Anyway, back to the reason why I moved back home. It just became clear to me that it was more important to be there to look after Grandmother and Grandfather than it was to fight my parents for independence. All the old feelings about my mom dying of cancer came up, and I realized there wasn't time to be wasted in petty arguing.

I miss my old room above Kelly's, especially the time I spent with you. It seems like a lifetime ago. If there was some way to bottle that time up.. it was so magical. I'm just afraid I'll never be the same again.

I also made a decision about my career. I'm going to be a doctor. Not just a regular doctor... one that specializes in alternative medicine. I know you wouldn't scoff at me like my family does. They say: 'Don't hem yourself into one area of medicine, you're much too young to know what you want' Well, I know what I want. They're thrilled I'm interested in medicine of course, and I start premed classes this spring. One of my optional classes is on the use of experimental herbs in healing terminal diseases. I've already got the text, it's so exciting!

Enough about me. Jason did as he promised and cleaned up the area around Kelly's. You wouldn't believe how it looks now! New businesses are moving in and Kelly's is booming. I still work there on the weekends. In fact, I've been promoted to weekend manager. The pay's decent and it's great to be trusted with so much responsibility. Carly's doing great, she's blissfully happy with Benny at the moment, who treats her like gold. They are so adorable together that I'm sure you'd be gagging.

I keep asking Carly for news about you, but she says you don't write her. I saw Lulu and your mom in Kelly's the other day, what a treat! Lulu's so big, you wouldn't believe it. She's tall and slim now, no baby fat on her. She seems very happy. Your mom looks great too, but so big! I think she's due to have her baby any day now. She looks so sad when she mentions your name. I know she wishes you were home too.

AJ is still clean and sober and has decided to run for the next councilman's seat. Justus is working his fingers to the bone to keep ELQ on the leading edge. Lois is pregnant again, Can you believe it? Mom and Dad are fine, but they are so grateful to have me home, they've been walking on eggshells around me giving me whatever freedoms I want. Freedoms I never expected or asked for.

I ran into Nikolas and Gina on campus this past week and they told me she's pregnant! Apparently they've known for a while, but Nikolas wanted it to be a secret. Anyway, Gina's starting to show just a little, they are both so cute about the whole thing. What's so amazing to me is that last year at this time I was so hooked on Nikolas and now I can't remember why. It's not like he isn't gorgeous, or sweet. I guess when I think of being in love, all I think of is you.

I miss you so much, Lucky, it hurts. I wake up every morning with a hole in my heart and my first thought is of you. I miss feeling your arms around me...seeing you crack a lazy smile... having you kiss me. Sometimes at night, I close my eyes and I can almost feel your arms around me. Pretty sad, huh?

Mom tells me I should start dating again, she says she hates to see me so sad all the time. But I look at the college guys and they all seem so superficial, so fake compared to the memory of what we had.

I love you, Lucky. Come home.

Love,
Emily


Once the letter is finished, a teary-eyed Emily stares it for a moment before folding it with great care. She kisses it softly once before sticking it in her diary and leaving her bedroom.

Wyndemere, it's midday and strangely quiet. Usually family members are gathering for lunch, but today, Lulu sits alone in the living room reading a book to her doll.

The phone rings and Lulu reaches across the couch to answer it. "Hello."

"Lulu? Is that you?"

"Hi Lucky!" Lulu practically bounces with excitement. "I can't believe you called! Are you coming home? Mommy's in the hospital and..."

"WHAT?! Mom's in the hospital? Is she okay?!"

"I think so, Nik says she has breaking hiccups. We thought it was the baby last night." Lulu sits back on the couch. "It was really funny. Stefan was running around with his shirt buttoned the wrong way and his hair all mussed."

Lucky cuts her off again. "Wait... so you're sure Mom's okay? What's 'breaking hiccups'? Can I talk to Mom?"

"She's at the hospital still. Nikky said she'll probably be home later today, unless the doctor holds her for ob..." Lulu struggles to remember the word. "obversion. I think that's the word."

"You mean observation."

"Yeah, that's it!" Lulu continues to chatter on. "You should see Mommy. She's huge and doesn't walk normal... she waddles like a duck!"

Lucky rubs his face impatiently. He loves his sister, and he can tell she's trying to be helpful, but she's not telling him what he wants to know. "Listen, is Nikolas around? Or Gina?"

"Nope. Just me and Mrs Lansbury. I hope she's not mad that I answered the phone."

"Where's Nikolas? Is he at the hospital?" Lucky presses.

"I don't know..." Lulu's voice gets small all of a sudden. "Lucky.. when are you coming home? I miss you."

"I don't know, Sis. I haven't decided."

Lulu lower lip juts out. "Don't you want to see the baby when it's born? Don't you want to see me? Mommy doesn't say it, but she gets sad when I talk about you. I know she misses you and I don't like it when she's sad. You've been gone forever."

Lucky swears silently, at age five she's better at the guilt game than just about anyone he knows. "I'll think about it, okay? That's all I can promise. I gotta go. I love you, Lulu. I'll call when I can."

Dr Newman greets Stefan and Laura with a smile as she enters Laura's hospital room. "Everything checks out just fine. All your labs are normal and the contractions have completely stopped. I think you can go home in a few hours."

"Dr Newman, are you sure it is safe for my wife to return home?" Stefan asks in a challenging tone. "We live some distance from the hospital and any chance of risk to her is unacceptable."

Laura cuts in gently. "Stefan, I'm pregnant, not terminally ill. If I go into labor again, we'll just come back."

Dr Newman nods. "I assure you, Mr Cassadine. Except for being eight months pregnant, your wife is in fine health. I wouldn't send her home if I had ANY concerns that I would be putting her or the baby at risk." She hands Laura a pamphlet. "Here are a list of instructions to follow if you have any more Braxton Hicks contractions. If you encounter any problems page me or call the maternity ward."

Dr Newman leaves Stefan and Laura alone. Stefan sits on the edge of Laura bed and takes her hand in his. "Are you disappointed?"

Laura leans her head against his chest. "A little, I was so sure that we'd have the baby by now. Does Lulu know...?"

"Yes, Nikolas told her." Stefan replies. "I have to admit I am anxious to see our baby, but I try to remind myself that our child will come when it's ready."

Laura caresses her large stomach. "Actually, I'm a little relieved too. I keep praying Lucky will decide to come home. If I had our little one today, Lucky would have missed it. I wish there was some way to tell him how much I need him here, how much his presence would mean to me."

Stefan closes his eyes and kisses the top of her head. "It distresses me to see how much Lucky's absence weighs on you and not be able to do anything. Have you reconsidered my offer to look for Lucky?"

"Actually, I have given it a lot of thought lately," Laura admits. "Not a day goes by that I don't wonder how he is. Is he safe? Is he happy? Is he hurting? Is he alone? And every day, it gets harder to respect his independence and let him be out there on his own. I miss him so much..." Laura forces herself to swallow the large lump in her throat. "Let's give it a little more time. If he comes back on his own, it would be so much better for everyone. And if you went after him, I'd risk losing him for years, if not forever."

General Hospital... At a payphone down the hall from the maternity ward, a woman in her early forties with long dark hair talks into the phone. "It looks like a false alarm. Everything's in place now. Whether the delivery happens tonight or a month from now, we'll be ready."

 

Chapter 18: Scared Stiff

"Carly, thank God I tracked you down, I need a ...."

"Lucky Spencer! Is that really you?!" Carly exclaims into the phone while standing at the nurse's station at General Hospital. "I can't believe it! Where are you? Are you back in town?"

"No, no, I'm in Phoenix right now," Lucky explains impatiently. "Listen, I need a huge favor and you're the only one I trust to help me."

Carly rolls her eyes in mock annoyance, but the grin on her face tells the real story. "Oh, so you think I'll help you out, even after you skipped town with hardly a word and pretended I didn't exist for the last three months. Not one letter, not one postcard..."

Lucky loses his patience and yells into the phone. "CARLY! This is really important, PLEASE. Just stop talking and listen a minute."

Carly scowls good naturedly. "Okay, Okay. Jeesh, you won't even let me tease you. Go ahead, ask your favor."

"Thank you." Lucky takes a deep breath. "I need information on my mom's condition, I know she's there at the hospital because I called Lulu earlier this afternoon and she told me."

Carly becomes all business when she hears what he wants. "Oh, I should have guessed that's why you're upset... Listen, I'm not her nurse, so I don't have easy access to her chart, but last I heard, it's nothing serious. In fact, I think she's due to be released today."

"Please, Carly," Lucky begs. "This is REALLY important. I have to know if she's okay, if the baby's okay, and why she was admitted. Anything and everything. You gotta help me."

Carly looks at her watch. "Hmmmm, I'm due to take my afternoon break within the hour, call me in an hour and I'll have the chart."

Lucky lets the breath out he's been holding. "Thanks, Carly, you're the best. I owe you one."

Carly smirks into the phone. "I'll just add it to your tab."

Alexis peeks her head into Laura's room to find Stefan and Laura cuddled together like lovebirds on her hospital bed. "Hi! I thought I'd stop in while I was in the vicinity. I hear you're going home later today?"

"Yep, that's the plan," Laura says brightly. "What brings you here to the hospital?"

Alexis smiles nervously, avoiding eye contact with Stefan. "Oh, this and that, business errands."

Stefan's eyes narrow suspiciously at Alexis' attempt at evasiveness. "Really? And what business errands would those be?"

"Oh, Alexis," Laura interrupts, trying to head off Stefan's inquisition. "How about having lunch with me tomorrow? I could use some girl talk... Do you have time?"

"Yes, actually I do..." Alexis replies.

Stefan frowns darkly. "Lasha, it is not wise to be considering luncheon dates so close to your due date..."

Laura bats his hands playfully. "And what do you think I should be doing? laying at home in bed while I'm waited on hand and foot? I'll go crazy within two hours if I have to do that. Having lunch in town doesn't put me in any risk. In fact, I'll be closer to the hospital if anything does happen."

"You shouldn't be gallivanting all over town in your condition," Stefan argues. "You will tire yourself out. Alexis can surely come out to Wyndemere for lunch, that way I can ensure that you are pampered properly."

"I swear, you are positively medieval sometimes..." Laura scolds.

"You just noticed, Laura?" Alexis quips. "Most people get that right away."

"What you really mean, Stefan, is you want me under your ever-watchful eye," Laura continues. "We've had this argument before. I'm a grown woman, more than capable of taking care of myself. I know you're just worried about my health, but there's really nothing to worry about. I'll be fine. If anything happens, I'll call you on your cell phone and go straight to the hospital."

Stefan stands up abruptly, everything in his demeanor conveying his frustration at being thwarted. "Very well, you have made your intentions clear. If you will excuse me for a few minutes, I should go speak with the nurses about your discharge." Without a word to Alexis, he stalks out of the room.

Once the door shuts, Alexis busts out laughing. "I can't believe it! Stefan Cassadine leaving an argument in defeat."

Laura shakes her head ruefully. "It wasn't a defeat, it was a strategic withdrawal. Believe me, we will be arguing about this up until my lunch date with you tomorrow. And he'll find a way to be close by even so."

"Still, you have my undying admiration. It takes a rare woman not to be bullied by him." Alexis walks over to the bed and quickly hugs Laura. "I'll meet you at the Outback around noon?"

Laura gives her the thumbs up. "I'll be there! And I can' wait to hear the scoop on this secret you have."

"So you're saying she and the baby are okay?" Lucky asks again; looking visibly relieved.

"Yep, they're just fine. The official diagnosis is false labor... also known as Braxton Hicks," Carly clarifies. "There never was any risk to her really. Admitting her was just a precaution in case it was real labor."

"Braxton Hicks... that's what Lulu meant by 'Breaking hiccups'," Lucky chuckles quietly. "Makes sense in her head I guess. So does the chart tell you when my mom's due to deliver?"

"Uh... let's see..." Carly flips through the file to find the information. "Looks like the due date is about three weeks away. In other words, anytime."

"How can it be three weeks away AND anytime?"

"Because a woman's due date is only approximate," Carly explains. "Very few women actually deliver on their due date. Most babies are born within two weeks of their due date. But with this baby being your mom's fourth, there's no telling when she'll have it. She could even have it late."

"Thanks, Carly. I really appreciate you going out on a limb and telling me this."

"Are you thinking of coming back home to Port Charles?" Carly asks.

There is a long pause after Carly's question as Lucky considers his answer. "I don't know, I hadn't given it any thought until I heard Mom was in the hospital. The first thing that went through my head was.. 'Oh my God, what if something happens to Mom and I don't get a chance to see her?' I don't want to even think about the possibility of never seeing my mom again. So I guess that means I'm thinking about coming home."

"I know it would mean a lot to her," Carly presses gently. "It would mean a lot to a lot of people. Me, Lulu, Nikolas, Emily... Not just your mom. Emily really really misses you, Lucky. Have you thought of getting in touch with her?"

"I think about Emily all the time." Lucky shakes his head sadly. "But when I think of actually talking to her, I don't have a clue what to say."

"How about, 'Hi, I was a jerk for trying to pressure you into marriage, please forgive me?" Carly suggests.

"You don't pull any punches, do you?" Lucky, who's been talking on the phone in his motel room, hears a knock on the door. A moment later, Leo enters. "Listen, I've got company and I have to go. I'll talk to you later."

"Lucky, wait!" Carly hears Lucky hang up abruptly. "Damn you, Lucky. Now what am I supposed to tell Emily when I see her?"