Chapters 27 & 28

Chapter 27: On The Verge

Alexis, Jason and Justus sit around Jason's living room. Alexis has a notepad in front of her, and as each question she has regarding Jason's investments is answered, she scratches it off her list. During the whole meeting Alexis has been ruthless in staying on task, to the point of cutting Jason and Justus off mid sentence if they digress in the least bit from the appointed task. Her odd behavior has caused Justus and Jason to exchange several worried glances between them.

A lull in the discussion descends and Justus steps into it. "With the exception of the will, that pretty much covers it. Am I correct, Alexis?"

Alexis takes off her reading glasses and faces the two men. "Yes, that's correct. And while Jason's will is very straightforward and requires no clarification, I have some serious objections." She glares pointedly at Jason. "I cannot believe you made provisions for Stone in your will and didn't bother to inform me."

Jason sits back in the couch and studies her casually. "I probably didn't because I expected you would react this way. I had a hard enough time getting you to accept the trust fund I arranged for him, even though we both know the money Sonny left me would have gone towards it had Sonny had time to change his will. You've been pretty unreasonable about the whole issue of money from the start."

Alexis stands up and paces angrily while she rants. "Your decision to make Stone partial beneficiary of your will without bothering to inform me was highhanded at best. You've all but said that you don't trust that I can provide for my son on my own! Don't you see what an insult this is?" She shakes her head. "I can't believe you'd go behind my back like this, Jason. I thought we had a trust built, dare I say a friendship. And I've counted on you to fill the void in Stone's life. But this..."

"We ARE friends. You are my best friend's wife, and I promised Sonny that I would look after both of you. That's what I'm going to do, whether you like it or not." Jason looks at her oddly, baffled by her extreme reaction to the will. He expected her to be annoyed, but to question their friendship over this?

"That's not how I see it at all," Alexis retorts. "You don't think I can provide properly for Stone, that Stone needs a man to provide for him. Of all the chauvinistic garbage I've had to swallow..."

Justus cuts in, trying to keep things from getting out of hand. "Woah, both of you. I suggest we take a break here and breathe a little before we say things we're going to regret."

Alexis turns on Justus, fixing him with an angry glower. "And you, COUNSELOR, are as condescendingly chauvinistic as they come! But you're right on one thing, I better stop before I say something I really regret." She turns to Jason. "Jason, if you care at all about our friendship, you will stop making decisions that affect my son without consulting me."

The two men stare at her dumbfounded as she grabs her briefcase, walks out on the meeting, and slams the door behind her.

Justus coughs nervously. "Wow."

"No kidding." Jason rubs his chin thoughtfully. "Something's definitely eating at her, that's for sure. I've never seen her so on edge."

"That's putting it mildly. I called her this afternoon to confirm our meeting and she nearly bit my head off." Justus shakes his head ruefully as he gathers his things. "I've never seen her as anything but unfailingly polite and professional, even when she's being tough as nails"

"Me either." Jason rises to walk Justus out. "Thanks for everything you've done for me the last couple years, Justus." The men shake hands. "Anytime you get tired of corporate life, you let me know."

In the apartment above the club, Lucky straightens his collar and smooths back his hair. "Well, Foster, do you think Emily will want to have anything to do with me?"

Foster's only response is to groan soulfully. Lucky snorts. "Thanks a lot, Man. You're certainly great for the old ego."

"This is a sad state of affairs if you have to resort to asking your dog for an opinion," A familiar male voice says behind him.

Lucky whirls around to find Mike standing in the doorway. He scowls. "What are you doing here?"

Mike strolls into the apartment. "Same could be said of you. What did you do, break in here last night? Good thing no one's living here right now."

Lucky grabs his leather jacket and dons it. "As a matter of fact, yeah. I figure I still own half of this place, so I'm entitled to crash here for a few days. And I scoped out the place first to make sure it was deserted."

Mike ignores Lucky's subtle hint to leave and takes a seat on the single bed. "It doesn't bother me that you're here, if that's what you're worried about. So where have you been? How long you planning to be in town?"

Lucky sighs impatiently and gestures to the jacket he's wearing. "In case you didn't notice, I'm about to leave. I've got things to do and talking to you can wait."

Mike nods solemnly. "So nothing's changed since you left, huh? You still hate my guts?"

"Frankly, I haven't given you a moment's thought since I left. You just don't matter that much, Man." Lucky stands at the door fidgeting, and when Mike doesn't move, he continues. "Listen, I'll stop by the club later if I'm back before closing. We can talk then. Just NOT now."

Mike retrieves a set of keys from his jacket pocket and tosses them to Lucky as he walks out the door. "Those are yours until you decide differently. Good luck with Emily. She's as good as they come."

Alexis opens the door to her penthouse to find Jason standing there. "I'm really not up to going another round with you," Alexis says. "If that's what you're here for, you might as well turn around and go back across the hall."

Jason shakes his head. "I'm not here to fight. Can I come in?"

Alexis escorts Jason to the sofa and offers him something to drink. "Have you decided to heed my wishes and have Stone's name removed from the will?"

Jason declines her offer of a drink. "That's not what I'm here about."

Alexis pours herself a glass of water and takes a seat on the sofa next to Jason. "Well, if you're not here to change my mind and or to tell me you've changed yours, then why are you here?"

"I'm here about you." Jason stares at her steadily. "The fact that you even have to ask that question confirms my suspicion. Something's seriously wrong and I'm here to find out what it is."

"What's wrong is one of my closest friends went behind my back to make provisions for MY son and.."

Jason raises his hand to cut her off. "No, that's not it. Yeah, I expected you to be mad, but not like this. Justus told me how you practically bit his head off when he called this afternoon. Your bodyguard, Jan, says you threatened to fire her for being late once..."

"I have every right to hire and fire my employees if so choose," Alexis retorts. "And Jan's MY employee and she's been slacking off in her duties.. and now I hear she's reporting my activities to you..."

"Stop." Jason interrupts. "Just hold on a second and let me finish."

The quiet command in Jason's tone stops Alexis cold. "Fine, go on."

Jason continues. "Yes, of course you have the right to hire and fire your own employees. No, Jan didn't come to me, but when I asked how you've been, she said she was concerned because you've been snapping at her the last couple days, which is very uncharacteristic for you. The Alexis Davis Corinthos I know doesn't lose her cool during business meetings and stalk out in a huff. It is also not her style to snap at her employees or at people who call her on the phone. And she doesn't question long-standing friendships over a disagreement about wills. You are not acting yourself, Alexis. Something is seriously wrong and it isn't the damn will. "

Alexis gets up off the sofa and walks to the window overlooking the city. Being confronted with facts of her erratic behavior the last few days breaks through the brittle shell she's built around herself to contain her feelings. The sadness, the guilt, the despair she's been forcing down bubbles up, overwhelming her to the point of not being able to speak. So she stands at the window, trembling, using what's left of her reserves to keep from crying or collapsing into a heap.

Jason comes up behind her and places a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Alexis, what's wrong?"

"I.. I can't.." Alexis takes several deep breaths to still her trembling, but it has little effect. "I can't.. talk about it. It's too awful, too painful."

"You can't keep going like this. Something has to give."

Alexis looks at her hands. "I know... you're right. I can hardly function. The only thing I can say for myself is it hasn't affected Stone. I haven't let it."

"Of course not. Stone is everything to you." Jason squeezes her shoulder affectionately. "If you can't talk about it, maybe you need a break to think things out."

Alexis shakes her head sadly. "I can't, not with Stone. He's too distracting."

"I can watch Stone for a few days while you take off to the farmhouse to think," Jason suggests. "Business is pretty quiet these days and I can call you if something comes up."

"Maybe that's what I need..." Alexis replies thoughtfully, her mind already working on the details. "Not the farmhouse, though. It still hurts too much to see it. But I can check with Stefan to see if the Cassadine retreat is free. You're sure you don't mind taking care of Stone?"

"Not at all. There's tons of stuff I want to show Stone now that he's old enough."

Alexis turns and hugs Jason quickly. "Would it be too much to say thank you and I'm sorry?"

Jason smiles. "Forget the apology and stick with the Thank you."

Late at night at the Quartermaine residence, Emily sits on her bed reading one of her textbooks and making notes. The rest of the house is still, most of the family having already retired to bed. This is Emily's favorite time to study because her mind is clear and focused.

The quiet stillness of the night is broken by the sound of pebbles hitting her window. At first, Emily doesn't register what it is, it has been so long since she heard the sound. But when the third and fourth pebble strike the window, she jumps up off her bed and rushes to her window. Down below is a sight she's been waiting a long time to see... Lucky Spencer.

 

Chapter 28: Whatever It Takes

Laura is sitting at her dressing table brushing out her hair as she talks to Stefan who's sitting in bed reading. "I really feel like everything is going to be alright now that Lucky's back in town. You know how I've worried since he's been gone, but I don't think I realized how much until the weight was lifted off my shoulders today."

Stefan smiles at his wife. "Nothing could make me more pleased than to see you so relaxed and content."

Laura turns to face him. "You've been wonderfully patient through all my moods, thank you." She looks away thoughtfully. "You know, I think leaving Lucky to his own devices these past few months has gone far in helping him let go of the bitterness. He's still hurting and will be for some time, but the sharp edge is gone."

"I hope you are right, Lasha. For none of us will benefit if the feud continues, least of all our child. I will do whatever I can to see that Lucky and I can peacefully coexist." Stefan puts his book down on the end table and pulls the covers up around him.

Once Laura is finished with her night time ritual, she climbs into bed beside her husband and snuggles against his chest. "I know you will and I can't tell you what that means to me. Oh... I'm planning to take Lulu over to see him tomorrow. She was so excited she could barely lay still in bed tonight. Everything was 'Lucky this' and 'Lucky that'. The last time she was this excited was the day we got married."

Stefan smiles slightly at the memory. "Yes, I remember how she was that day. She came to see me right before the ceremony and made me promise to love you forever." He gazes at Laura tenderly while brushing her cheek with the back of his knuckles. "She is very protective of you, you know."

"It's a family trait we all share..." Laura wraps an arm around Stefan's neck and pulls him close for a kiss, then sighs. "You know what I like least about this part of my pregnancy? Not being able to make love."

Stefan smiles slyly as he draws her to him for another kiss. "Oh, but there are all kinds of ways to make love... and I am looking forward to exploring them with you."

Emily throws open the window and sticks her head out. "Lucky Spencer? Is that really you?!"

Lucky grins, some of the tightness in his chest leaving at the sight of her smiling down at him. "Why don't you come down here and see for yourself?"

Emily races down the stairs at top speed and runs out to the side lawn where Lucky is waiting. She comes to a stop a few yards away from him, drinking in the sight of him. She had dreamed of him coming to see her like this. The first few weeks back at the Q mansion she had laid awake at night straining to hear the familiar rain of pebbles on her window. And now he's here in front of her, standing a few feet away with his hands in his pockets and staring at her with a deep intensity.

Despite the ample warning Nikolas gave Emily of Lucky's return, it hasn't prepared her for actually seeing him. Lucky looks different somehow, his hair a little longer in all the right places and his chest broader, making him look more like a full grown man and less like a sprouting teenager. Lastly she looks into his eyes and practically drowns in them. The way they are focused on her and only her, communicating silently the depth of his love for her.

Emily walks towards him slowly, not able to move faster because of the weakness in her limbs. It's amazing to her that she makes it without falling. "Lucky.." she says in a breathless whisper.

Lucky gulps convulsively, also overwhelmed by the sight of her yet not able to tear his eyes away. "Emily, God I've missed you..." He reaches a hand out to touch the side of her face, his thumb brushing against her cheek.

The feel of his fingers touching her face causes Emily's tears to flow. "I... I..." She can't get the words to form in her mouth as she sways slightly.

Seeing Emily cry rips at Lucky's heart as no amount of screaming or anger on her part ever could have. He pulls her against his chest for a fierce hug. "Please don't cry, Em. Please. I'll take anything you throw at me but I can't stand to see you cry."

Overpowered by Lucky's familiar scent combined with the feel of his arms enveloping her, Emily cries harder and burrows her face into his jacket. "I.. I can't stop!"

Tears streaming down his face, Lucky strokes her head lovingly as he gently rocks her in his arms. "It's going to be okay, Em. I promise. I'll do whatever I have to do to make things right for you. Please stop crying, Baby, please."

As Lucky repeats the soothing words over and over, Emily gradually begins to calm down. "I... I'm such... an idiot!" She hiccups. "You must think.. I... I'm pitiful for cry.. crying on you like this."

Lucky tightens his hold on her. "No, Baby. Not at all. You're beautiful and sweet and I'm a complete jerk. Just take a couple deep breaths..." Emily does as he asks. "Feel a little better?"

Emily nods and wraps her arms around his waist. "I feel so stupid, acting like a big baby." She shivers slightly. "It's kind of cold out here, do you want to come inside?"

"Yeah, sure." They walk hand in hand up to her bedroom and sit facing each other on her bed. Emily, still feeling ashamed by her outburst, looks down at her bedspread to avoid meeting his eyes.

Lucky lifts her chin up with his forefinger. Even with her eyes red and puffy she is the most beautiful vision on earth to him. He also notices some subtle changes in her-- a slight thinning of her face, the curves to her body more emphasized and alluring, transforming her from a pretty teenager to a drop dead gorgeous young woman. The only part of her that hasn't changed for the better are her eyes. They are much much too sad.

Finally Lucky speaks. "I can't believe how incredibly beautiful you are... and so sad. I'm so sorry I've hurt you, Emily. I wish there had been a way for me to what I needed to do without hurting you like this. If I had known...."

Emily gets up off the bed and walks over to her dresser and straightens a few knickknacks. "I understand why you needed to leave. It hurt too much for you to stay."

Lucky comes up behind her and puts his hands on her shoulders. "It had nothing to do with you or my feelings for you. I was so screwed up I didn't know what end was up. But through all of it, I've always known how much I loved you."

Emily squeezes her eyes shut to keep the tears from flowing again. "How can you be so sure that you still love me when you haven't seen me in months?"

Lucky turns her around to face him, forcing her to look in his eyes. "I knew the moment I saw you tonight, when my heart dropped to my feet at the sight of you looking down at me from your window. And now that I'm touching you, talking to you, my heart feels so full it wants to burst... And God, I want to kiss you so much..." He brushes his lips against hers tentatively and when her lips part, he kisses her deeply, drinking in her essence like a starving man.

Emily makes a small cry deep in her throat before wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him back with everything she has. She loses herself in him completely, in the feel of his hands touching her, relearning her body. For a moment she loses sense of where she is when he sweeps her up in his arms. Then she finds herself being laid on her bed with great gentleness.

Lucky's hands work the buttons of her blouse as his lips nibble on her neck seductively, sending shivers up and down her spine. "Let me show you how much I love you, Emily," He pleads breathlessly. "Let me make the hurt go away."

His words combined with his hands exploring her intimately bring Emily back to reality in a rush. She bolts upright and shoves his hands away violently."NO! No, I can't do this. Not after all this... time. Not when I'm so confused and mixed up and hurt. I can't!"

Swearing silently, Lucky takes several deep breaths to bring himself under control. "You're right. I had no business pressuring you like that. I'm sorry, I just lost my head when felt you in my arms again." He stands up and turns his back to her, running his fingers through his hair, his self-loathing practically choking him.

Emily curls into a ball and wraps her arms around herself. "I... I need to be alone. Please... just go."

Lucky gulps sadly. "Okay... if that's what you really want." He crosses the room to kiss her on the top of her head. "But I meant every word I said tonight. I love you, Em. And I'll do whatever it takes to make things right between us again."

After Lucky is gone, Emily buries her head between her knees and sobs quietly