| Subject: Chapter 4 |
Author:
Becca
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Date Posted: 10:03:36 02/24/01 Sat
In reply to:
Becca
's message, "The Path of Thorns" on 09:58:31 02/24/01 Sat
Chapter 4
**Kelly’s**
Landon crept down the stairs from his room, hoping to avoid anyone as he left the diner. He was in a hurry to meet Tony to go running and was already late. The last thing he wanted was to run into Liz who would proceed to tell him all about what happened with her brother after she left the previous night, or to bump into Bobbie who would badger him into eating breakfast, or one of the other numerous people who liked to stall him.
“Landon, wait.” Busted. He turned around, smiling up at Gina who had exited her room to find him leaving.
“Hey Gina, what’s up?”
“Have you met the new boarder yet?” she asked, walking to Lucky’s room to knock on the door.
He took a deep breath, realizing he wasn’t going to get out of this. “Nope, can’t say that I have. You?” he asked while taking the stairs back up.
Gina shook her head and knocked on the door. “No, but I guess now is as good a time as any.” She tapped on the door a few times, but there was no answer. “Um, Lucky? Are you in there? Hi, I’m Gina, one of your floormates, I was just coming to wel . . .”
“Looking for me?” Lucky asked, coming down the hall from the bathroom. He was wearing a pair of black jeans and no shirt. His hair was wet and slicked back, and a towel draped around his neck.
Gina’s jaw dropped. Liz had told her about the new guy, how he was absolutely gorgeous, but nothing, not even Liz’s artist’s imagination could prepare Gina for him.
She tried to speak, but was too busy staring at Lucky, who was grinning warmly at her, to even form a cognitive thought.
“Seems Gina has lost her voice. You should really get that checked out G,” Landon teased as he stepped forward, extending his hand to Lucky. “I’m Landon Spencer, and my mute friend here is . . .”
“Gina Cates,” she finally blurted out, jutting her hand out to reach Lucky’s.
“Hi,” Lucky said, watching Landon curiously. This was his brother, his younger brother. He wasn’t exactly prepared to meet him yet, but didn’t want to lie about who he was either. Nervously, he ran a hand through his short brown hair and motioned to his room. “I better finish getting dressed. I’ll be down in a few minutes, talk to you then?” he asked, pointedly looking at Landon.
Landon, thrown by the intensity in the young man’s gaze, shrugged and muttered, “Can’t man, I’m going running. Maybe later. Se ya.”
Lucky sighed, turning his attention back to Gina. She was cute, blonde and thin with a great smile and a raspy, sultry voice. He didn’t know anything about her, but couldn’t see the harm in getting to know her.
“What about you? Gonna run away from me like I’ve got the plague too?” he joked with a wink. “Breakfast?”
“I’d love it . . .what would you like? I’ll put the order in while you are, um, changing,” Gina stammered, her eyes fixated on Lucky’s perfect, slender chest.
“Scrambled eggs, dry and whole wheat toast with a glass of pineapple juice . . .if it is available,” Lucky said as he opened the door to his room.
“Will do, see you in a few,” Gina sighed as Lucky disappeared into the room. One thing was certain, Gina mused, she finally had a crush on a guy who wasn’t the son of Laura Spencer.
**GH – Kevin’s Office**
“Kevin, where’s Lucy?” Carly asked, pushing her way into Kevin’s office without a moment’s hesitation.
“I could have had a patient in here Carly, you can’t just barge in,” Kevin admonished her.
Carly rolled her eyes as she stood over Kevin in front of his desk. She watched him for a moment, waiting for the answer to her question. He was silent.
“Where. Is. Lucy?” she asked slowly, frustrated beyond belief.
“At. Her. Office,” he replied mockingly.
“I know I should have tried their first,” Carly grumbled as she flopped down in the chair across from the desk.
“Then Carly, why didn’t you?” Kevin wondered. He leaned forward, almost whispering, “Unless this is a plea to have an unscheduled session. Is it?”
Carly yawned widely, looking through her purse for a stick of gum or a hard tack. “Maybe . . . I really don’t like this therapy thing . . .I don’t think it’s working.”
“Why don’t you think it is working?”
“That’s why! I have issues, serious, deep rooted issues, and your form of therapy is to ask me questions,” she grumbled.
Shortly after Jason left Carly had a minor break down. She came to the realization that too many of her hopes and dreams were dependent upon him and she had to let him go, but first she had a minor mental break down, which she claimed was only fatigue. After the break down Kevin convinced her that her dependence on Jason was due in part to her issues with Bobbie and her childhood. So, figuring she wanted to be sane and normal for Michael, she began to see Kevin on a regular basis. The only person that knew about the sessions was Sonny, and he was very supportive. Carly even tried to convince him to go as well, knowing her friend, boyfriend, lover…whatever he was to her … also had many issues he should really work through. He balked at her offer, saying it would be some lame attempt to make him like Tony Soprano. Carly replied that his excuse only exemplified how much he needed therapy.
“Can’t you give me answers to my problems. Can’t it be easy?”
Kevin looked at Carly, smiling at how much she reminded him of Lucy. “Do you really want to face down your demons?”
“See, more questions,” Carly accused. She noticed the frustrated look on Kevin’s face, and shrugged her shoulders. “Yes, I want to do that.”
“Then Carly, there are no easy answers. I’d love to have a session with you, but I have a patient in ten minutes. We can do it tonight if you’d like.”
Carly looked through her planner, shaking her head. “Sorry, Lucy and I have to interview head waiters, chefs, all our staff, all night . . . it’s amazing how much work goes into making a restaurant work. Why on earth did I choose this as my dream business?”
“Because you like to see the rewards of hard work, just like Lucy,” Kevin explained with a smile.
“See,” Carly called out as she got up to leave. “You can answer my questions with simple answer. Bye Kevin.”
“Bye Carly,” he waved as she left. Ten minutes later he heard a knock on the door. “Come in.”
Cloaked in dark glasses and a raincoat with the collar pulled up, Sonny slipped into the office. He looked more like a spy than a mobster slash coffee merchant.
“Right on time,” Kevin said. He motioned to the chair then the couch, “Take a seat and we’ll get started.”
“For the record Dr. Collins, I’m only doing this so I can move forward in my life and my relationships. Carly swears it helps, so, you know . . . I’m giving it a whirl,” Sonny explained as he hung his coat up and sat down on the couch.
Kevin nodded his head and took out his pad and paper. Sonny had made three previous visits and given the same advisory warning before each session. If the term reluctant patient ever applied to anyone, it was Sonny Corinthos.
“Last time we discussed your about Jason, which you think stem from your history with your step-father. Would you like to continue from there?”
“Sure,” Sonny nodded, taking a deep breath before speaking. “Well, I had a gun in my hand and my step-father was standing in front of me, only it wasn’t Deke, it was Jason. . .”
**Harborview Towers – Apartment 100B**
Liz walked into the apartment, smiling as she looked around the spacious, empty living room. She turned behind her, smiling at her brother, “Wow Steven, these are some digs. How did you ever get a place here, at Harborview?”
Steven smiled as he followed her in, a large cardboard box in his arms. “It’s funny, I didn’t think I’d have a shot in hell at it . . .but it seems that people shy away from this building.”
Liz nodded her head knowingly, “Sonny.”
“What?”
“Sonny Corinthos lives in the penthouse here, that’s probably why people aren’t flocking to this building,” Liz explained, she poked her head into the hall. “Hey Gram, did you get lost?”
Audrey hurried down the hall, laughing to herself. “I was just having a delightful conversation with the doorman. What a nice young man.”
“He works for Sonny you know,” Liz informed, knowing her grandmother’s weariness of Sonny and his associates.
“That’s what is so sad,” Audrey sighed. “A bright young man like that should be . . . starting a career like my darling Steven, not being one of Sonny Corinthos’s armed guards.”
“Not everyone can be as perfect as Steven though,” Liz teased, nudging Steven in the side.
He began to open the box, looking up briefly at his grandmother and sister. “I’m not perfect, really. Don’t even begin to think that about me. I’m not one of those squeaky clean, perfect Webber’s . . . I’m not Sarah, or dad, or Abby.”
“Well, nobody is as perfect as mom,” Liz groaned, her strained relationship with her mother obvious. “Dr. Jeff and Abby Webber, along with their perfect, blonde daughter Sarah make the perfect American family.”
“Now, now,” Audrey sighed. “You and Sarah moved past that ages ago. Don’t start that rivalry again.”
“Yes Gram,” Liz said tiredly. She turned to Steven expectedly, “Well, are you going to show me my room or what?”
She knew it was fast, that her brother just got into town and all, but Liz wanted to move out right away. It wasn’t because she wasn’t getting along with Audrey, in fact they were closer than ever. She just needed independence, not to mention living with her brother was something Liz really wanted to do.
Liz started packing as soon as she found out about Steven’s apartment, and though it would take a few days, she wanted to start getting settled in as soon as possible.
Steven led them down the short hallway, pointing to two doors on opposite sides. “A or B?”
“I don’t care, whatever one you want is cool with me,” Liz explained as Steven pointed to the door on the left. “Mine?” he nodded and Liz and Audrey went into the room.
Audrey walked over to the closet, peering inside of it before turning back to Liz. “I think you’ll be very happy here.”
Steven entered the room, leaning against the doorway and smiling. “I sure hope she is. There’s nothing more that I want than my baby sister to be happy.”
Audrey crossed the room, stopping to give Steven a warm hug. She pulled back, touching the side of his face fondly. “You are such a good boy Steven. Your grandfather would be so proud.”
“I’d hope so Gram, cause Gramps was . . .he was a great man, better than I’ll ever be.”
“No, no,” Audrey shook her head. “Ever since you were a little boy I knew you’d be special. You are so much like your grandfather, I hope one day, if you so choose, that you’ll take over General Hospital just as he did. I have faith that you would be able to fulfill all the dreams Steve was never able to accomplish.”
“Oh Gram, please, don’t compare me to Gramps. He’s more than I’ll ever be,” Steven whispered.
Liz laughed softly. “He’s too modest for his own good.”
Audrey’s beeper went off suddenly, “Oh dear, it looks like I’m needed at the hospital.”
“How can you still have to be on-call? Haven’t you earned the right to spend the afternoon with your grandkids yet?” Steven asked with a nervous laugh.
“I’m filling in for a friend,” Audrey sighed as they walked to the door. She looked at Liz, “I’ll see you at home later?”
“Probably, I’m not even close to finished packing yet. I’ll be sticking around at least a couple of more days. See you later Gram,” Liz said, waving as Audrey left, walking towards the door. Liz turned, frowning at Steven.
“What?” he grumbled.
“Why are you so down on yourself? I saw the look on your face as Gram was comparing you to Gramps, it’s like you were being insulted. Why?”
Steven sighed, slumping to the floor, Liz sitting beside him. “It’s because I don’t deserve it. And I’m not being humble. Liz, I screwed up my life so bad, the only way I could get a job in medicine was for dad to use his GH connections.”
“Did you almost lose your license?” Liz asked worriedly.
“Oh no, nothing like that. I was one of the best damn doctors in Colorado, the Webber Whiz Kid. I let it get to my head, I let everything get to my head. These guys, I guess I thought they were friends, got me involved in gambling and drinking and all that garbage. We’d go to Vegas every time I had a free night where I wasn’t on call. I got . . .in trouble. I accrued some devastating debts.”
“You had a gambling problem?” Liz asked, looking over at her brother in shock. She couldn’t believe it. Steven was always the most responsible, levelheaded person she knew. How he could ever get himself into trouble was something Liz couldn’t grasp.
“I was a . . .an insult to mom and dad. They had to keep bailing me out of trouble and all sorts of stuff. But I begged them not to tell you or Sarah. I swore I’d clean up, you know? I got in over my head with some guys who were very persuasive, but I didn’t want to let anyone down.” Steven paused, running his hands through his hair as he sighed deeply. “I begged dad to help me out. Help me one more time and I’d straighten up. I’d get clean, get away from Vegas and the gambling. You know, I’d concentrate on medicine again, work hard, repay everyone who helped me with my debts. That meant coming to Port Charles, taking a role I didn’t want . . .you know that Liz? I didn’t want to come to Port Charles and work at GH, I wanted to prove myself without the help of my family. But I failed, I messed up, screwed myself.” He paused again, looking over at Liz. “You’re the first person I told, other than dad.”
A look of disappointment spread over Liz’s face. She didn’t want to hear this, Steven wasn’t supposed to have flaws, he was supposed to be everything she believed. Her big brother, the promising young doctor, clean cut and wholesome. But he wasn’t, he had gambling problems, he abused alcohol and who knows what else.
“Why are you telling me Steven? If you didn’t want to let me down, you could have went on keeping up the façade. After all, mom and dad aren’t about to tell me you are even in town, let alone in trouble,” she said bitterly as she pulled herself up.
“Cause you understand.”
Liz looked down at him, stung by his words. “Understand what? Being the family disappointment? The black sheep? So, that’s what you mean Steven. Well, welcome to the club. The Webber reject group of two. Isn’t it fun not being perfect?” she spat, feeling all the anger and resentment she felt towards her parents welling up inside of her. “You know what Steven, maybe I don’t want to live with you at all. You’ll just be a reminder of what I’m not, and I am in this family.”
She began to leave when she felt her brother’s hand on her arm. “Elizabeth Imogene Webber you aren’t going to do this. I know you and I know that temper, I have no idea where it came from but I sure as hell know you love to crawl up inside of it when you are hurt or angry. I’m not going to let you do that,” Steven ordered, forcing her to look him in the eye. Her eyes were wet with tears, but she wasn’t crying. He looked into her eyes, hating having hurt her. “I did not mean you are a failure or a disappointment Liz, not at all. I meant that you’d understand because you can look at people with flaws and still accept them. I told you because I need acceptance . . . I need forgiveness. You are not a failure Liz, you aren’t. You are the greatest success this family has ever had. You are your own person, you have your own life. God, I admire you little sister, I wish I could be as gutsy as you. I’m so sorry I hurt you.”
Steven pulled Liz close to him, hearing her sob against his chest. At that moment, with his little sister, Steven knew he’d be alright, he could handle his problems because he had his family.
**Kelly’s**
“Italy!” Emily exclaimed as she sat at the table with Lucky while eating lunch. “What was it like growing up there? Were mobsters running the place?”
Lucky leaned his head back, laughing softly. “First off, no mobsters didn’t run the joint. No more than they run Port Charles. But growing up in Italy was . . . I can’t compare it to anything else because it’s all I have experienced, you know? It was fun though. I didn’t have any siblings, but there were a ton of kids in my neighborhood who were Army brats, basically. They would teach me all things American that my tutors didn’t. During the summer we’d play baseball and flag football from early in the morning until dusk. Then we’d go swimming at night, in the Mediterranean,” Lucky smiled as he spoke, taking note of Emily’s impressed expression. “My life was far from ideal though, but the moments I was allowed to be with my friends and be a kid I didn’t feel like I was out of place or something was wrong.”
Emily leaned across the table, frowning, “Those moments don’t last forever though, do they?”
“Unfortunately, no. There was a woman though, Maria Antolli, she was mother basically, she helped. She was an American too, and together we’d dream of coming to the States, leaving Italy behind and such. Most Americans want to go to Europe, we just wanted to come here.”
“So you were adopted?” Lucky nodded his head as he munched on a couple of French fries. “So was I. My mother died of cancer when I was young, and the Quatermaines adopted me. They are great though, I never feel like I’m not a member of that family.”
“It’s nice to feel like you are part of a family. And, at least you knew your mother, I envy that,” Lucky sighed deeply.
“Is that why you are here? To find your parents?”
Lucky looked at her nervously, not wanting to tell anyone until he spoke with Luke and Laura first. “Yeah, but I’m not looking for them, cause I know who they are. I just have to meet them.”
“Anyone I know?”
Lucky shot her a warning glance, not even realizing he was doing it. “I can’t talk about it, sorry.”
“I understand . . .want more fries or something?” Emily asked, trying to change the subject.
“Actually,” Lucky glanced at his watch, letting out a nervous breath. “I have to go . . . thanks for lunch though, it was great.”
Lucky rose from his seat and began to leave, stopping when Emily called out after him. “Hey Lucky, wait!”
He looked back at her, his eyes raised expectedly. “Yeah?”
“Tuesday is the Fourth of July. My family always hosts this huge celebration, picnic thing. Everyone is going to be there, it’ll be great, you can come if you’d like,” Emily invited him with a smile.
Lucky thought for a moment, running his hand through his hair in the back, “Sure, I’d love to come. Now I’ve really got to go, later Emily.”
Lucky rushed out of the dinner, almost knocking Nikolas down in the process. He looked at the young man strangely before turning to Emily, a questioning look on his face.
“Hey Em, who was that?” Nikolas asked, sitting down in the seat Lucky had vacated. Nikolas and Emily had become very close friends. Once she got over her crush on Nikolas and fell in love with Sly, Emily was able to accept Nikolas and Sarah’s relationship and eventually become one of Nikolas’s closest, probably the closet friend. She considered Liz to be her best friend, but Nikolas filled a very special, specific part in her life.
“Lucky…” she paused, trying to remember his last name. “Antolli is what he said, but I don’t think that’s the truth.”
Nikolas nodded his head, glancing over his shoulder to the spot where he almost ran into Lucky. “He looked really familiar . . .like I knew him or something.”
“You probably know his family,” Emily pointed out. “He was adopted as a baby and raised in Italy, but his family supposedly is here in Port Charles.”
“What?” Nikolas asked in shock. “Who are they?”
“He wouldn’t say, he was real cryptic about it though, like it is more than just a secret, like it’s dangerous,” Emily noted, watching the anxious look that had washed over her friend’s face. “Nikolas, what’s wrong?”
He looked up into Emily’s eyes, not really sure if he should tell her what Stefan told him the night before. He smiled, “I don’t know . . .something tells me that there is more to your new friend than you can ever imagine.”
If Lucky was the child that Luke and Laura had lost so many years ago, this couldn’t be good. Nikolas feared that the boy would be Helena’s new weapon of choice, not a normal looking young man having lunch with Emily. Maybe Helena didn’t raise him; maybe she just took the child to make Luke and Laura feel the pain of losing a child. But why would she keep the child alive and send to be raised in Italy? Why would he be back?
**Pier 21**
“This is all wrong,” Lucy declared as she stood behind the bar, going through one of the boxes of alcohol that arrived.
“What’s wrong?” Carly asked, emerging from the kitchen in a panic.
“This,” Lucy held up a bottle, frowning. “I distinctly ordered Cristol champagne, not this bargain basement garbage. Where did this come from?”
Carly grimaced as she looked at the bottle. “Well Lucy, it’s not the worst you’ll find in the world . . .”
Lucy shook her head and packed the box up, looking at the deliveryman in annoyance, “Take this back and bring back what I ordered. Got it?”
“Yes ma’am,” he said nervously, taking the box and disappearing.
“You don’t understand Carly. This isn’t just going to be any restaurant. It will have class, elegance. It starts with the drinks, and ends with desert. You can’t have cheep champagne or wine or liquor and expect to impress the clientele. Can you?”
Carly shrugged, suddenly feeling extremely overwhelmed by the prospect of owning the restaurant. It was fun at first, when she and Lucy came together, spinning the idea of a classy restaurant that felt like something out of a 1940’s movie. Picking out the china they’d use, the way they’d decorate the dining room and bar, even finding the perfect location was all exciting. But now, less than a month away from the opening, Carly was growing increasingly stressed.
“How are things coming along in our search for the perfect maitre d’?” Lucy wondered. They had been very strict in their hiring process, intent on hiring people who would make everything authentic.
“Nobody . . .” Carly sighed, sitting down at one of the tables. “Nobody really seems to fit our qualifications. Not that many honest, attractive, refined, pleasant people exist. I’m not giving up, it’s just going to take some more time . . .though, I do have good news.”
“Do tell,” Lucy said, finally feeling like things were looking up.
“After going through all of our potential head chef’s I think I found our guy. Danny Lewis!”
“The American?” Lucy said loudly. “He was our back up choice, if we couldn’t get Jacques Garcon or Mario Villa. Why on earth would he be good news?”
“He’s the best Lucy. The guy can cook, not to mention he’s perfect for the theme of our restaurant. Danny’s a throw back, a real . . . he can cook, but he’ll be the type of guy we’d want magazines to interview for publicity. He’s funny as all get out, not to mention really cute. To hell with some foreigners and their egos, Danny is our man.”
Lucy looked at her friend skeptically. “When can I meet the boy wonder?”
“He’s coming in tonight. Trust me Lucy, he’ll be the best thing to happen to Pier 21 since we came up with idea!”
**Spencer House**
Lucky nervously stood on the porch to the house, his hand hovering over the doorbell. He wanted to ring it, knew he had to ring it, but couldn’t bring himself to actually ring it.
The house was quaint, a nice place for a family to grow up. There was a porch swing that looked like it had seen many summer nights with people casually swinging on it, staring at the stars. It was big and open, he could totally see kids running around the lawn, playing ball or selling lemonade. Though, Lucky knew the people he was about to meet were anything but normal.
He wondered why, if Helena claimed to hate the Spencers so much, she’d not attempt to bias him against them. The tutors were fairly fair in their education on Spencers 101. He knew almost all of their secrets, the relationships within the family, everything. If it was to make him hate them, he’d have to say Helena failed. Their flaws and mistakes only made him more curious. That a family could stay together so long, never dissolve even in the bad times, was awe-inspiring. It made him want to meet them even more.
“Ok darlin’, I’ll check, but I just don’t think we have any mail today,” he heard a man call out a moment before coming tot he door. “Whoa, who are you?”
Lucky looked up at the man, feeling himself welling up inside instantly. There was only one person he could be, there was no denying it. Lucky was standing face to face with his father, with Luke Spencer.
“Hi,” Lucky said with a smile. “You’re Luke Spencer right?”
“Most days,” Luke said with a laugh as he opened the door.
“Well, um, I’m Lucky . . . Lucky Spencer. Your son,” Lucky declared openly, forgoing subtlety. He watched the shocked almost fearful look on Luke’s face, afraid he went about this all wrong. “If . . .if you let me explain . . . I’m not lying sir. I know this sounds ridiculous, but I am Lucas Lorenzo Spencer Jr. I have my birth certificate and everything, or at least a copy of it.”
Luke blinked in disbelief a couple of times before motioning for Lucky to join them in the living room. He couldn’t put together a thought, something to say. All he could was stare at the young man. Look into his bright blue eyes and see Laura, watch him walk and feel like he’s looking at a nineteen-year-old version of himself. He had to admit, that just looking at the stranger he felt an odd sense of connection. But this couldn’t be . . .never.
“Laura, angel, can you come in here,” Luke called into the kitchen weakly.
“What is . . .” she began, stopping when she saw Lucky standing in the center of the living room. Her eyes met him and she felt her legs go weak. Reaching out to Luke for support she managed to ask, “Who are you?”
“I’m . ..oh god, this sounds ridiculous,” Lucky muttered to himself as Luke and Laura sat down on the couch. “I’m your son, Lucky. Though you named me Lucas, everyone calls me Lucky. You have no reason to believe me, but I am. I was kidnapped, but the people in the hospital were paid to make you think I died. I was taken to Europe and eventually adopted by a man named Gianni Antolli. He was a bastard, but his wife, and American named Maria, basically raised me. I had tutors who made sure I mastered English. The neighborhood I lived in was right by an American Army base so I spoke English all the time and had friends and such.”
“Oh my gosh,” Laura said, crying softly. She got up and walked towards Lucky. Caressing his cheek Laura looked into his eyes and knew instantly he was telling the truth. She couldn’t explain it, but when she held after he was first born, and looked into his eyes, she saw who he was. And right then, as she looked into those perfect blue orbs, she saw that same person.
Impulsively, not worrying about scaring him, she pulled him into a hug. “I don’t know how . . . I’m just so happy that you are here.”
“I’m glad to be here too . . .” Lucky paused, sitting down on the chair across from the couch. “There’s more to my story. But you have to promise you won’t rush out and do anything drastic. If my telling the truth gets out, Maria will be killed, or I’ll be killed, or I’ll have to do something I don’t want to.”
“Helena Cassadine was behind this, wasn’t she?” Luke asked, shielding himself off from feeling anything. If this was really his son so many things would change, for the good and bad. But he had to know everything before he could believe in the impossible.
“Yeah,” Lucky nodded his head. “She took me, forced Antolli to take me. It was her people who tutored me in school and stuff . . .and they also taught me all about Port Charles and . . . well, you guys. The Spencers and the Cassadines, my brothers, cousins, my little sister . . . I know all about you guys because of her. I don’t know why she did it. Every few months she’d come to visit me, we’d play chess and stuff but . . . Helena was never mean to me, she was always kind. But I didn’t like her. No matter how much the tutors made her out to be some kind of family martyr, I hated her. She told me I had this family and someday I’d be able to meet them. I kind of think she wanted me to hate you all, but I don’t. I just want to know you.”
“So she brought you here?” Luke wondered. “And she’s threatening that woman . . .Maria?”
“She brought Maria to Port Charles, and threatened her. I have to protect Maria, she’s all I got. She’s the only person I ever loved, I ever cared about. I didn’t have any family, any real friends, anything but her. That’s why you can’t do anything to let anyone know I told you the truth. If you do . . . I need your word you’ll protect her or I’ll leave Port Charles and go on the run with Maria. Can you promise me that?”
Luke chuckled softly. As he looked a the young man there was no doubt in his mind this was his son, he had the fire and spunk, the loyalty and heart of any Spencer ever born. “You have my word Cowboy. We’ll protect Maria . . .and you.”
“Thank you . . .” Lucky began but was cut off by the sound of the front door slamming. They all looked towards the noise, seeing Landon standing in front of the door, his face pale, in obvious shock.
“Wow, this is amazing,” Landon said coolly, looking from Lucky to his parents. “No need to explain anything to me, I think I figured it out. Lucky’s my second, secret older brother who you neglected to tell me about. You think I’d be used to this by now.”
“Landon, honey, it’s not like you think. We thought he died . . .we never wanted you to think . . .”
“What? That I was a replacement for the son that died? Well? Wasn’t I? Come on mom, you thought your son died, and then you had me. Technically, I would call that replacing him. Wouldn’t you Lucky? Man, you should be pissed too . . .they replaced their dead little boy in a blink of an eye. You came to meet them? Why?”
“Landon, please, don’t be mad at them. It’s not them, really . . . they are pawns in this just as we all are . . .” Lucky sighed. He suddenly felt panicked; his brother had heard everything about Helena. Landon was obviously angry, Lucky feared he would he let the truth out in an angered rage. “But I need you to promise me you won’t say anything about Helena. It can get people killed.”
Landon stepped closer to Lucky, looking the young man in the eye. As much as he hated it, Landon couldn’t deny feeling a pull to Lucky, there was something very basic about him, so much like their father.
“Why should I help you? I don’t care about you or your friend,” Landon spat. The truth was he didn’t hate Lucky, he could almost feel for him, but he was hurt and angry, lashing out.
“Have you ever loved someone? Someone you’d give your own life to protect?” Lucky asked, looking his brother squarely in the eye, amazed by how connected he already felt to Landon. He wondered if he’d feel the same way with his half-brother Nikolas.
“Yeah,” Landon admitted, his mind flashing to Lulu, and Nikolas, and Liz.
“I swear Landon, I’ll protect the people you love if you protect those I love. You have no reason to see me as family, just as I don’t. But we are brothers, and I’m asking you on that level only to help me,” Lucky said pleadingly.
“We are not brothers, not yet. Blood doesn’t make brothers Lucky,” Landon said sadly. He looked at his parents whose faces were a mixture of joy and fear and sadness. Landon took a deep breath, extending his hand to Lucky, “But maybe we can learn to be brothers. Don’t worry, I’m a Spencer, and we protect each other. I won’t say anything.”
“Thank you,” Lucky said honestly before turning back to Luke and Laura. “Um, I better be going. I don’t want to keep you and all.”
“Nonsense,” Laura said as she slid her arm through Lucky, amazed that the baby she thought she lost was back. “You have to meet your little sister and . . .Nikolas.”
Luke grumbled at the mention of Nikolas. He had an odd affection for the young man, but would never allow anyone to know it. “Landon, call up the Demon Spawn and tell him to get his butt over here,” Luke ordered his youngest son.
Laura looked at her husband in shock. “Did you just . . .”
“Well, the last thing we need is a Cassadine flipping out because we kept a secret from him, right?”
Lucky chuckled a bit, all the stories about Luke Spencer didn’t do the man justice. There was something enigmatic about him that made you want to be around him, to be the fortunate one to crack the mystery. Lucky sighed, “Would it be a problem if I called Maria? I’d really like you guys to meet her.”
“That would be more than ok,” Laura said softly, kissing him on the cheek. She looked over at Landon who was on his cell phone with Nikolas. “You can use the phone in the kitchen.”
“Thanks,” Lucky nodded and slipped through the swinging door. Laura and Luke locked eyes, almost unsure what to say or do.
“Is this possible Luke? Do we have our son back?”
Luke smiled, “Let’s not get overly excited. This is Helena we are talking about . . .but yeah, it kind of looks that way Angel, it really does.”
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