rebs19.html

Chapters 49 & 50

Chapter 49: Coming Up For Air

"Glad to have you back, Alexis," Lucky says as he saunters into the study at Wyndemere. Alexis is sitting at the desk behind a laptop, with Nikolas next to her, looking over her shoulder.

Alexis looks up and gives Lucky a welcoming smile. "Thank you, Lucky! I'd say it's good to be back, but it'd be a lie. I didn't get nearly as much time with Cari and Cassidy as I would have liked, and now I'm back to work. I was just looking over the reports on Richard. I see there's nothing new."

"No leads worth pursuing anyway," Nikolas confirms grimly. "I can't tell you how much I hate this. If the kidnappers can make Richard disappear without a trace, what's to keep them from doing the same when my child is born?"

Alexis shakes her head adamantly as she rises. "It won't happen, Nikolas. We'll make sure it doesn't. For one, the security will be so tight, you'll need to provide identification and be strip searched just to be able to hold your own baby."

"I know you keep telling me Gina should have the baby at General Hospital, that you can provide sufficient security to make abduction impossible, but there's no way you can prepare for every variable." Nikolas begins to pace in front of Lucky and Alexis, rubbing his chin as he ponders the problem.

"Do you really think Mercy could do a better job, Nikolas?" Alexis asks dubiously.

"No way," Lucky pipes up. "Their security is no better than General Hospital's at this point, and we'd be at a distinct disadvantage since we don't know the staff or the hospital layout as well. If Gina is going to have her baby in a hospital, then GH is as good, and probably better, than any other hospital."

Lucky's statement pricks Nikolas' curiosity. "What do you mean, 'if' she has the baby in the hospital... are you suggesting she give birth to the baby somewhere else?"

Lucky shrugs. "If you want to be able to control every variable, then the best scenario would be for Gina to have the baby here at Wyndemere. It's on an island... teeming with Cassadine security, both human and electronic. What safer place could there be?"

"But isn't that risky?" Nikolas, excited but cautious, looks at Alexis. "What if there are complications for Gina or the baby?"

"I'm not a doctor, Nikolas, but Gina is young and in good health, as is the baby. Many women have home births without incident." Alexis leans back in her chair, already warming to the idea. "Of course if you're concerned about medical complications, topnotch medical staff and equipment could easily be brought here. A helicopter could be placed on standby if she needs more intensive medical care than what we can set up here. It would be expensive..."

"You have to know expense is NOT an issue here, Alexis." Nikolas quickly makes the decision, already breathing easier than he was a few hours ago. "Alexis, contact Alan Quartermaine and arrange for the best doctors and nurses to be on call for the birth. I will call Dr Goldstein right now and ask her to design a mini-hospital here."

"Woah, Nikky! Aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself?" Lucky asks. "Shouldn't you run this by Gina first?"

"Gina will agree to anything I suggest," Nikolas says with confidence, the tone brooking no argument. "She wants our baby to be as safe as I do."

Lucky looks at his watch. "I've got to jet. Mom and I have a breakfast date in the gardens this morning."

"Will you make sure she eats something?" Nikolas asks. "Maybe you'll have more luck with her than the rest of us have."

"Yeah, I'll try, but you know Mom, nothing changes her mind if she digs in her heels."

A short while later, Lucky and Laura sit down at a table set up in the Wyndemere rose garden. On the table is an assortment of pastries, fruits, and beverages, per Laura's request. Lucky works on a pastry, while Laura sips quietly at her tea and smiles warmly at him. "I'm so glad you agreed to have breakfast with me, Lucky. Any time I can spend with you alone is a boon."

Seeing the sadness behind her eyes, Lucky reaches over and squeezes her hand. "Then I'm glad I'm here. I'm sorry I wasn't around at all yesterday..."

Laura cuts him off with a shake of her head. "Don't be. I know you have a full life outside of coddling me. You've spent too much time lately worrying about me and Lulu. But now we're finally starting to heal. As a matter of fact, for the first time since this all happened, Lulu had a normal day yesterday." Laura's smile widens as she talks about Lulu. "She spent it at Felicia's with Georgie, just doing regular everyday kid things. She came back bubbling with happiness, almost like this tragedy had never happened. To top if off, she only woke up once last night with a nightmare. It's only a matter of time before Lulu is completely recovered!"

Overjoyed, Lucky reaches over to hug his mom around the shoulders. "That's great news, Mom! Wow, this calls for a celebration. How about I take you and Lulu out to dinner on the town? Now that Mike's back from Switzerland, I can get a night off and take you two to New York City. Heck, we could make a day of it.. how about Saturday?"

Any lingering melancholy vanishes as she envisions spending the day having fun with her kids. "Oh I'd LOVE that, Lucky! And I know Lulu will be thrilled! Just the three of us... we haven't done that ages. I think we're due for some fun."

"More than due. I'll call you later with the details." A thought occurs to him and Lucky leans over and whispers in Laura's ear conspiratorially, a playful smile on his face. "There's just one thing, Mom. You're not going to be able to keep up with Lulu and me unless you start eating more."

"Why is it when you nag me about eating, I don't get offended?" With a dismayed laugh, Laura shakes her head. "Okay, I know, I know. All of you are right and I'll try to do better."

Lucky hands her a banana. "That's all we can ask, Mom. Now EAT."

Laura snatches the banana out of Lucky's hand with mock annoyance. "If you weren't so cute, young man, you wouldn't get away with half the stuff you get away with!"

Lucky winks and sits back, watching with satisfaction as his mother consumes the banana. "If ya have it, flaunt it."

Kelly's Diner, after the lunch rush.

"Hey, Beautiful!"

Emily looks up from cleaning a table at Kelly's to beam at Lucky coming through the door. "Lucky! I didn't expect to see you today."

"I'm on a mission," Lucky quips, catching Emily around the waist and kissing her on the neck.

Emily turns and wraps her arms around his neck, kissing him fully on the mouth. "Mmmm, I like the sound of that."

Fighting the urge to deepen the kiss and create a floor show for the smattering of customers, Lucky settles for running his hands up and down her back. God, Emily felt good. Too good. "Bad news is I can't stay. The good news is, I want to make plans for some time alone."

Emily disengages herself, taking him by the hand and walking him to the lunch counter where they will have a semblance of privacy. "Oh? What kind of plan?"

"How about we relocate our comedy night to my apartment, for added... privacy," Lucky suggests.

"I like the idea.. but I'd like the idea even better if I could see you sooner." Emily removes an oversized cookie from the cookie jar and holds it out for him to take a bite. "How about we move it to tonight? I'm done with all my studying until next week."

"I think that can be arranged, but only on one condition." Lucky locks eyes with Emily before taking another bite. "You stay the night."

Emily's heart does a flip and replies without hesitation. "I'd love to. I get off at seven. What time should I be at your place?"

Lucky finishes off another bite from the cookie. "Unless you want to go home and change, how about I pick you up here along with some Chili takeout?"

"I've got a change of clothes in back, if you don't mind my taking a shower at your place. I always feel grubby after working a full day."

A lascivious smile spreads across Lucky's face. "No, can't say I mind one bit." Glancing at his watch, he reaches across the counter, removes the cookie from Emily's hand and gives her a quick peck on the cheek. "Gotta run, Mike and I are meeting to go over the schedule. I'll see you tonight, Gorgeous."

Shaking a sappy smile off her face, Emily waves as he runs out the door. "Can't wait!"

On Spoon Island, Laura picks her way carefully down the well beaten path. The wind blowing through her hair, for the first time in over a month, feels refreshing, even exhilarating. She had forgotten the simple pleasure of this walk and the healing properties of the sun mixed with wind on her face.. Somehow, with each step she feels stronger, more alive. One could almost say happy. Except the feeling is too diffuse for that.

Reaching the clearing, Laura catches sight of her purpose for this trek, the lone figure sitting stoically on the stone bench, his arms crossed looking at the sea with an inscrutable look on his face. He gives the impression of being a million miles away. Laura steps up to the stone bench.

"Hi, mind if I join you?"

Stefan snaps to attention, giving his wife a strained smile and shifting over on the bench to make room. They sit apart from each other, like intimate strangers. "Of course you may. I was just looking out at the water. It has always given me pleasure before." He studies her face a moment. "I am pleased that you are looking better...." He lifts a finger to brush her cheek. "There is color in your face where there was none before. "

"The breeze coming off the water is revitalizing." Laura closes her eyes and lifts her face up to the sun. "I can't believe I forgot how serene it is, out here facing the water." After a long moment of silence, Laura lowers her face again and opens her eyes. "There's a lot I have forgotten lately... or rather taken for granted. Like how much I treasure our marriage, the love we share." She takes his hand and squeezes it. "I love you, Stefan."

Stefan fights the tears that fill his eyes, feeling so undeserving of her love. All he promised her of their life together is now in ashes. If she didn't need him so much, he'd seriously consider disappearing from her life. Stamping that feeling out ruthlessly, he squeezes her hand back. "I love you, Laura, with all my heart. Every day I wake up I am grateful to have you in my life."

Laura sidles up to Stefan and leans her head on his shoulder. "I feel like I've finally come up for air, Stefan. It feels good after all this time, even the incredible pain that comes with it. I've been living in a dream world for so long, only half conscious."

Stefan slowly rubs Laura's back. "It continually amazes me how strong you are. You have lost so much, Laura, and yet survived it all."

"Yes, I have. We all have. But if I live only in the losses, I'm not really living. That's the conclusion I came to today. Perhaps because of seeing Lulu so happy yesterday. She was living in the moment, and the glow of happiness was a sight to behold. I want some of that for me, for all of us. To grab happiness wherever I can get it."

Stefan, only half listening, kisses Laura on the top of her head. "A wise decision."

For a moment, Laura looks puzzled by Stefan's distracted answer to her major revelation, but presses on anyway. "Lucky invited Lulu and me for a day of fun in New York City on Saturday. Would you mind terribly if left you to your own devices?"

"Not in the least. The idea is an inspired one," Stefan replies, forcing enthusiasm into his voice. "I am certain LesleyLu will adore New York City with you and her brother, and you both have been cooped up on Spoon Island far too long. With bodyguards, the two of you should be safe enough."

"No bodyguards," Laura says adamantly, cutting off Stefan's protest. "I mean it. Lulu and I have lived under house arrest long enough. If anything was going to happen, it would have happened already. I want us to forget the last month while we're in NYC. How can we, if we bring it with us?"

Chapter 50: Love Fest

The pink Cadillac rolls to a smooth stop in front of the old Spencer homestead before Lucky kills the engine. Smirking, Emily shoots him a suspicious look. "Last I checked, this wasn't your apartment. Not that I'm complaining..."

"True..." Lucky turns in the seat to face her, taking a lock of her hair between his fingers. "When I went back to my apartment this afternoon I noticed how gross it is. Not to mention the whole room vibrates when the club is hopping." His whole demeanor changes to soft and vulnerable. "You really don't mind? We could--"

Emily places her fingers over Lucky's mouth to hush him. "I love that you brought me here. Really."

Lucky catches her hand and presses a kiss into her open palm. "Shall we go inside?"

Emily grins. "Take me to your shower."

Lucky wiggles his eyebrows suggestively. "Your wish is my command."

After grabbing their gear, they enter the Spencer home to find it in immaculate condition. Emily catches a whiff of something cooking. "Is that bread baking?" She exclaims with disbelief.

"To go with the chili we brought home. I tell ya, being on Mrs Lansbury's good side is a wonderful thing," Lucky quips as he leads her up the stairs where they come to a stop in front of the bathroom. The awkward moment makes him run his fingers through his hair. "Uh.. here it is. I'll.. I'll wait for you downstairs."

Emily leans forward to kiss him, softly at first, but she finds herself deepening it, seeking more intimacy. They have waited so long for this moment, waited until they were both sure they wanted to renew this intimate part of their relationship. Even though they hadn't said the words out loud, they both knew what tonight was about.

Despite the temptation to let things burn out of control between them, Emily pulls back and slips into the bathroom. She can wait a little longer until everything is perfect.

Lucky draws in a shaky breath and shrugs off the desire to follow her in. He made a promise to her and to himself that he would take things slow this time, to give her a chance to trust him again. Emily is worth waiting for.

Down the steps he goes and into the kitchen to check on the bread. Having followed Mrs Lansbury's instructions explicitly, the bread is a beautiful gold brown on top. Lucky removes the bread to cool and places the container of chili from Kelly's on a warming plate. Snagging a chilled bottle from the fridge, he takes it to the dinner table and places it in the ice bucket. He stands back to examine the results of his family's nice china laid out on a simple but elegant tablecloth. He lights the candles and crosses the room to the stereo to select a CD to play during dinner.

Freshly showered and her hair dry, Emily stands in front of the bathroom mirror and smooths out her simple white cotton dress before putting the final touches to her makeup. She's glad she obeyed her impulse to call Reggie to bring by another set of clothes. This is so much better than her old jeans and a tshirt.

Descending the steps, Emily has to smile when she hears the beginning of one of her favorite songs.

Well, here we are again;
I guess it must be fate.
We've tried it on our own,
But deep inside we've known
We'd be back to set things straight

When Emily reaches the bottom, she turns to see Lucky standing across the room from her, his hands in his pockets waiting for her. When he catches sight of her, his eyes warm and his breath hitches. Reaching a hand out to her, he says. "Will you dance with me?"

Emily's feet don't touch the ground as she covers the distance between them. Lucky's outstretched hand takes hers as his other arm encircles her waist. Their bodies meld, her soft curves against his lean build, and their lips mere inches from each other.

I still remember when
Your kiss was so brand new.
Every memory repeats,
Every step I take retreats,
Every journey always brings me back to you.

Pulling her even tighter against him, Lucky brings her hand up to his lips. Blowing warm air in her palm, he places a featherlike kiss on each finger tip, causing Emily's heat to rise and her breathing to stop. She can't believe how sensual such a seemingly innocent gesture could be.

After All the stops and starts,
We keep coming back to these two hearts,
Two angels who've been rescued from the fall.
After All that we've been through,
It all comes down to me and you.
I guess it's meant to be,
Forever you and me, After All

Lucky's hand cups Emily's cheek with infinite tenderness as his lips descend on hers for the most reverent of kisses. His lips brush hers in an expression of devotion, his love evident in the care he takes. There is no demand, no expectation beyond communicating his love for her. Emily heart fills with the knowledge of his love until she's sure it will burst. Tears stream down her face at the joy of being so completely loved and cherished. This love between them is the best of both of them.

She seeks to kiss him back with as much love, but when he feels her tears on his cheeks, he pulls back. "Emily, what is wrong?"

Emily draws his face back to hers to kiss him over and over again. "Nothing, absolutely nothing. Can't a girl cry because she's happy?"

When love is truly right
(This time it's truly right.)
It lives from year to year.
It changes as it grows,
Oh, and on the way it grows,
But it never disappears,

After All the stops and starts,
We keep coming back to these two hearts,
Two angels who've been rescued from the fall.
After All that we've been through,
It all comes down to me and you.
I guess it's meant to be,
Forever you and me, After All

For the first time since Lucky's return, they don't hold themselves back. Their mouths devour each other hungrily, tongues delving and exploring while their hands roam with abandon, their only encumbrance being their clothes. Nothing else exists for the lovers but each other

Dizzy with the passion Lucky is arousing in her, Emily loses her footing and sags against his chest. His lips trail down the hollow of her throat while his hands trail up her smooth thigh under the skirt of her dress. Emily's desire builds to such an agonizing point that she can hardly breathe much less think.

Always just beyond my touch,
You know I need you so much.
After All, what else is livin' for?

Emily fumbles with the buttons of Lucky's shirt. "Make love to me, Lucky. I don't want to wait anymore."

Lucky's kiss subtly changes tone so it's less frantic, and Emily gets the sense that he's pulling back. Confused and a little anxious, she looks up at him. "Lucky--"

"Shsssh." Lucky's smile is reassuring as his fingertips brush her freshly swollen lips. "We have all the time we want. I don't want to rush this. Not this time."

Emily closes her eyes and lets out a small whimper. "Fine, drive me insane."

The song ends and Lucky leads her to the dinner table where the candles give it a soft glow. Emily grins when Lucky holds out her chair for her. "It looks wonderful," She murmurs, watching him pour them some sparkling cider. With quiet intensity they share a toast to the night ahead, and to having more nights like this together.

'I've Got You Under My Skin' plays on the stereo, and Emily looks up at Lucky to see him wink devilishly at her. She practically chokes on her cider. He hadn't picked the song as part of a grand romantic gesture, he'd done it to be funny! "Jesus Lucky!"

Lucky is all innocence. "What? Don't you like this song? I'm kind of partial to it myself." When she tries to thwap him with her cloth napkin, he feigns outrage. "Hey! I'm innocent I tell ya!"

"Leave it to you to be funny at a time like this!" Emily tries to look fierce, but she can't keep from laughing.

"I figure we've had enough of serious, don't you? About time we had let ourselves have some fun." Lucky leans over to snag the bottle of sparkling water. "Think you're woman enough for another glass?"

Emily extends her glass. "Hit me."

The night was endless. After their quiet dinner where Lucky kept Emily laughing throughout, the couple resumed dancing. As expected, the dancing quickly led to more kissing. It took all of Lucky's self-control to keep their desire for each other at a slow burn, building slowly, letting it abate, then rebuilding again, with Emily following his lead. Dance after dance, Lucky held himself in check, wanting to make the night special, transcendent. Emily deserved this, deserved every bit of love and care he was taking, even if it killed him. And he had no doubt, it was killing him.

As the song, 'Someone To Watch Over Me' drifted through the house, Emily, trembling with desire for Lucky, broke off from a bone melting kiss and stepped away from him. Keeping a firm hold on his hand, she tugs him after her, towards the steps that lead upstairs. Lucky resists at first, attempting to pull her back to him, until he sees the certainty in her eyes, the certainty that she wouldn't wait any longer, that she was taking control now.

He follows her up the stairs and down the hall until they reach the main bedroom. Lucky tugs back at her hand, pulling her slightly off balance and into his arms. His kiss is searing, devouring. Gone are the slow drugging kisses and in their place is a hot devouring kiss that leaves her without the ability to breathe. His mouth ravages her neck as his hands pull harshly at her hair to expose more of her neck to his attention. Emily gasps, the heat of desire filling her whole body until she is sure it will burn her up. Mindlessly, she tugs at his shirt, accidentally ripping some of the buttons off. She has one goal: to feel his warm skin against hers, to lose herself in something bigger than herself.

They stumble into the main bedroom, their clothes dropping to the floor as their hands relearn each other's bodies... Emily reveling in his lean strength and Lucky adoring her soft curves

With the bed behind them, Lucky lowers Emily onto it, his fingers threaded through hers above her head. Lucky breaks the kiss to look deeply into her eyes as they join together to make love. His eyes fill with tears. "I love you, Emily, Today and forever."

Emily's hands cups his face tenderly, the sight of his tears causing her own to spill over. "I love you too, Lucky. There will never be anyone but you."

With a satisfied sigh, Emily rolls on top of Lucky and lays her head on his chest. Her eyes close in response to his hands stroking her hair lovingly. "Mmmmmm, tell me why we waited so long? Right now, I can't think of a single reason."

Lucky leans his head forward to place a kiss on the top of her head. "Because I wanted to be sure you could trust me. You do trust me?"

"With my life and my heart," Emily answers without opening her eyes. "I trust you completely, Lucky Spencer."

A wide smile creeps across his face. He feels suddenly light, like a large weight has been lifted from his heart, and he realizes that it's been there since the moment he walked out on her. This is home. Being with Emily, loving Emily. He was finally home.And there's no way on earth he'd leave again.

Lucky's hands trail from her hair down her bare back in a languorous motion. Just the feel of her skin did things to his soul. Touching her gave him peace where he had none before. Emily stirs under his loving touch, lifting her head up to kiss his chest, then his neck. He is so in tuned, so sensitive to her unique touch that he is aroused by the simple gesture. His hands find their way to the back of her head and he pulls her face towards his. They share a long intoxicating kiss that goes on and on until they both lose all sense of time and place.

In one swift motion, Lucky rolls Emily onto her back. Briefly regaining his senses, Lucky pulls back so that he's propped up on one elbow. He searches her face for a long time, taking in the sight of her eyes dark with passion, her breath coming in gasps, her lips begging to be kissed again.

Emily warms under Lucky's ardent gaze until she's aching with renewed desire. Tiring of the torment, she reaches up to draw Lucky back down to her. "Finished what you started, Lucky Spencer," She threatens. "Or I will make you pay."

Lucky laughs as their mouths find each other again. "Yes, Ma'am. I'm here to please."

"You do that."

Lucky pins Emily's hands beside her head as he rises to his knees. His gaze is burning, seductive, insisting that she keep her eyes locked on his. "But this time, Emily," He says as he releases her hands. "This time I won't stop until I've relearned every perfect inch of your skin...." His eyes follow his hands as the trace a erotic pattern on her skin from her wrists to her shoulders, leaving her trembling. "and I've remembered all the places that make you wild...." Lucky's mouth descends on a sensitive spot at the base of her neck, which causes her to moan his name. "...and you're crying out my name in sheer ecstasy."

Emily sighs happily under Lucky's promised ministrations. "Remind me again why we waited so long?"