CHAPTER 13

"-I can’t believe we just ran away without letting him a chance to explain.

-Kiara, you agreed to come. I didn’t force you

-I know Lucky, but still. He’s my father. No he’s not but you know what I mean. He is the only family I have, since all the family I thought I found isn’t mine after all.

-They will be. Once we get married.

-You still want to go through with this?

-More than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life"

Lucky was driving, leaving the road with his eyes long enough to smile at Kiara. She was finally back with him, like it was meant to be. He still couldn’t believe his father, and he met every word he wrote in the letter he left for him. Now, he just had to marry Kiara and be ready for his father, because he just knew he would come for them.

Robert was silently driving, Elizabeth sitting by his side. She was looking at a map and the paper was nearly obstructing Robert’s view. Finally he sighed and snapped at her.

"-Can’t you get that damn thing out of my eyes please? I’m trying to drive in case you haven’t noticed"

Ever since they left Port Charles a couple of hours earlier, they did nothing but bicker. Elizabeth wanted to go left, he wanted to go right, she wanted to stop for a potty run, he wanted to continue, she wanted music he wanted silence.

It was as if they were fighting to figure out who was the boss between them. Or that way they wouldn’t have to talk. Elizabeth changed the station again, putting it on a soft rock oldies station.

"-That is so weird to know music we listened to when we were the kids’ age are now considered as Oldies. Lucky knows Elvis because your father taught him.

-I know, sometimes I would hear a song and I would turn to Kiara and say "Your mother and I danced to this" and she would say "dad, that’s so ancient"

Elizabeth saw the far away look in his eyes, like every time he talked about Kiara’s mother.

"-Wanna talk about her? Elizabeth asked softly. About Kiara’s mom I mean?

-What’s there to talk about? Robert sighed, his eyes never leaving the road. She and her father rescued me. They took care of me, and I fell in love with her. But she was still in love with Kiara’s father. I tried everything to make her love me, but I was just her best friend, nothing more. I didn’t know why then, but I had this void in my heart I desperately needed to fill, and I thought Montana was it. I guess, I was used to being with someone, and that someone was you, although I didn’t remember it, and something was missing in my life. I tried to replace it with Montana. Two months before she died, Kiara’s grandfather passed away, and Montana would be alone to raise the girl, since Kiara’s father was a drug addict and a abuser. Montana was afraid he’d take the girl away from her so I volunteered to be her father. Then Monty died. I was alone in the world. Completely alone. I raised Kiara as my own. At first, I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want her involved with a Spencer, but the more I got to know Lucky, the more I was scared to lose her since I didn’t talk sooner, so I just kept my mouth shut. She’s all I have in this world Elizabeth. I just didn’t want to lose her.

-It’s not true. She’s not all you have. You had Lucky, too, if you just gave him half a chance. He wanted to get to know you, so bad. And it was hurting him to no end to see you didn’t care. Elizabeth reached for his hand. And you have me.

-I do care about my son, Elizabeth. But I got so used to hiding my feelings that it comes naturally now"

Silence filled the car again. Robert closed his fingers on Elizabeth’s hand but he didn’t look at her. She was smiling but he didn’t see it. All sorts of emotions were going through her body, she couldn’t help but think this might be a bad idea after all, to be alone with him on this adventure. This could turn out ugly. Or too good.

A song started on the radio and Robert smiled, squeezing her hand harder. They had danced to that song. Alone in his room above Jason’s garage, just after Tom Baker’s trial. Elizabeth told her he made her feel that way, and now, Robert would rather die than say it was his turn to identify himself to the song. He slowly started singing, his voice merely a whisper.

"-Do you have any ideas how many nights I wished to hear you sing again? Elizabeth whispered

-What, my brother never sings to you? He asked in a playful voice, but he was dying inside

-Your brother sings only in the shower and even there, he sings like a wounded duck"

Robert started to laugh so hard, he nearly lost control. Elizabeth screamed and laughed when she saw they were back on the road. Robert looked at her with his famous twinkle in his eyes.

"-You know, when we get back, you still have to show me that painting you were doing

-Yeah, right. I told you, no one sees my work before it’s completely done. Not even you. Where are we going anyway? She asked to change the subject.

-Vegas.

-What? Why?

-Because our darling son is planning on marrying Kiara.

-How do you know?

-Because he’s a Spencer, so he thinks like one. I don’t have legal custody of my daughter, but he’s afraid I’ll find a way to get her back before she’s 18. So the only way to null & void the "power" I have over her is to marry her.

-Lucky loves Kiara with all his heart. He wouldn’t marry her just to defy you

-I didn’t say he would. I said he would rush into marrying her not to lose her. I know, I did the same thing with you. Robert whispered"

They drove in silence for a while, Elizabeth’s hand still on Robert’s. They had forgotten about it, or each pretending they forgot about it. Robert pulled into a motel for the night. He asked the clerk for two rooms.

"-I’m sorry, I just have one left. A young couple just rent the other one.

-What did they look like?

-Well, the gentleman looked a lot like your lady over there"

Robert slowly turned to Elizabeth

"-Bingo. He smiled at the guy behind the counter. That’s her son and my daughter. We were suppose to join them a while ago. Could we have the number of their room?

-Room 301, third door on the left"

Robert knocked on the door, Elizabeth by his side. Lucky opened the door and dropped his toothbrush.

"-Mom, dad, what are you doing here?

-We need to talk Lucky. Said Robert. Where’s Kiara?

-In the bathroom, come with me"

Lucky opened the door and Robert looked inside. Before he could do anything, him and Elizabeth were pushed inside and the door closed, and locked. Robert banged on the door.

"-LUCKY, THIS IS NOT FUNNY OPEN THE DOOR!

-There is a light on the ceiling. Someone will get to you in the morning. There is no way you are stopping us dad"

Robert heard something cling and he understood Lucky pushed a chair against the doorknob.

"-Dad, don’t worry, someone will get to you, we’ll make sure of it.

-Kiara, please baby don’t leave. Please"

They heard the door close and Robert sigh. He remembered the light and flicked it on, pulling on the cord. They were in a closet. A little, tiny closet. Elizabeth was right in front of him, so close their bodies were nearly touching.

"-How are we suppose to stay in there until morning? Asked Elizabeth

-I don’t have enough room to kick the door down. I’ll sit on the floor. There’s nothing else I can do"

Robert sat down, his back leaning against the wall. His legs were half way up his chest and he threw his arms around his legs.

"-Where am I suppose to sit? Asked Elizabeth. There isn’t enough room to sit in front of you.

-Should’ve thought of that before I sat down"

Elizabeth turned her back on him and sat down, her back leaning against his legs.

"-This isn’t comfortable. Robert said"

Elizabeth pushed his legs apart and sat in between, her back leaning against his chest.

"-Better? She asked

-Much. He answered, putting his arms around her waist and throwing his head back, enjoying the feeling of having her close again."