Disclaimer: You’ve heard it! No infringement intended. In no way am I believing I own these characters, thank you.

Title: Echo of the Past

Rating: NC-17 or R, I think…

Keywords: Bobbie/Laura relationship, Laura/Felicia relationship, Luke/Laura Romance, Frisco and Felicia Romance…

Summary: Laura and Bobbie share their precious moments, realizing what the last two or three years has done. They become even closer, until Laura is kidnapped and guess whom she’s stuck with! You got it! Felicia! Though there is extreme pain between them still, Felicia’s life is in Laura’s hands, and being in a dungeon together, they must come to an understanding. They are rescued and…well just read!

Author: Paradise, e-mail me at Para8Dice@AOL.Com

Kelly’s Diner

4:12 PM

Did Bobbie just ask her if she'd gotten over Luke?

"I got over the lies," Laura said calmly.

"But did you get over him?"

Laura smiled, looking down. "He was the lies, Bobbie."

Bobbie tilted her head, sympathy and objection crossing her face.

"Laura, you know how Luke loved you more than anything, you can’t forget that no matter what happens."

Laura's beautiful mouth smiled again. "Of course I remember. But then I realized it was all lies. He said he wanted me, Bobbie, but how do you expect me to really believe that now? Could you believe it if you were in my place?"

Bobbie opened her mouth, then reached a hand out to Laura's. Laura squeezed back.

"He wanted someone who never lied to him. Never kept secrets, no matter what the reason. I don't recall him ever telling me the whole truth, do you?"

Laura had Bobbie there.

"And now I'm beginning to think if any of it was ever real. Because how can something we had, so...amazing, just vanish like that. I wonder when it all went wrong and I can't even begin to think about if it was ever right-"

"Oh Laura, you know that’s not true."

"I didn’t leave him. I really didn’t. He left and I can’t forget that. I miss the way he used to tell me I was all he needed. But, it's over now, and he has Felicia. They need to be together now. I just hope that she doesn't wake up one morning and find out that he never really loved her. I hope she doesn't go through what I go through."

Bobbie tilted her head even more, curious to Laura's words.

"Laura, do I catch a sense of sensitivity towards Felicia?"

"It's probably easier on you, isn't it? Your best friend with your brother together. I understand. I couldn't blame you at all for feeling that way."

"Laura, I don't want my brother to be with Felicia because he will break her heart, a lot faster than he broke yours."

"Yeah, well, I don't have much to ever thank Felicia for, but I hope she doesn't throw a way her whole life to be with a lie."

Laura got off the seat and began to walk away.

"Uh, Laura!"

"Yeah," Laura said quickly.

"You ever need to vent, you come to me. Anytime. I understand what's it's like to lose the man you love to another woman."

"Sometimes you don't know who to be more angry at. Felicia wasn't married to me, but Luke never made the marriage ending completely my fault the way she did."

Laura then felt embarrassed, this was Felicia's best friend.

"You come to me any time too. About Roy, about anything. Thank you for listening, and being so good to me."

Bobbie's eyes washed over Laura. Laura turned around, and there was Felicia. Felicia's hair was perfect and beautiful and she was in her typical cute attire and Laura felt nauseous at the sight of it.

"Hi Laura," Felicia said, which sounded an almost honest "hello".

Laura looked around, clearing her throat.

"Hello, Felicia," she managed and walked out.

Felicia looked over at Bobbie, then walked over, making a face of sarcastic surprise at Laura.

“At least she didn’t try to take a swing at me,” she said sitting down.

Bobbie smiled. “That’s not her style.”

________________________________________________________________________

Kelly’s Diner

Three Days Later

Laura tapped Bobbie on the shoulder.

“Oh, Laura! Hi. Please, sit down with me.”

Laura smiled genuinely. “Sure, what’s up?”
“Well, I know I asked you if you were finally over Luke,” she said sitting down next to her, “And I’m sorry. From what you two had, it was wrong to think in a few months it would all fade away.”

Laura looked down. She smiled almost happily. “I understand. And I’m sorry you keep being put in the middle.”

“You know, I don’t blame you for feeling angry with Luke, or Felicia, but you have to remember that it was just one time.”

Laura smiled. “One time before the trial, I don’t buy that it’s been only one time since then. And even so, it’s not that they slept together, that night or any other night. It’s that Luke kept looking at me…like he still cared. And I kept hoping. And I never thought at the times when those moments between us were there, that he was thinking of Felicia. I thought he was thinking about the person’s eyes who were looking right at him.”

“Maybe he was, maybe he thought you didn’t want him. He would watch you as you walked away.”
“I am not placing it all on Luke. I haven’t been a saint, but I never denied that Luke was the love of my life. I asked him so many times to take me back, to come home. I regret that more than I can say. Felicia threw herself at my husband, in front of me. And then in her eyes it was my fault. My marriage to Luke was over in Felicia’s mind, so no matter her husband, my husband, my kids or even her kids, it was all my fault, and she followed him pretty much everywhere.”

Bobbie nodded, understanding. “But, she found herself loving Mac, realizing that that one night was over, and she testified for Luke, knowing it would cost her, her marriage.”

“Why are you acting as though she did it for me?”

“No, I’m not saying that at all. But she risked everything to keep your husband from going to prison. She loved and loves Mac. But she did the right thing, knowing she would lose her husband. A husband she loved.”

Laura looked down. “Okay, you know Bobbie, I would’ve believed that story. I know she went away for the summer with Mac and her daughters. I know she wasn’t having it easy on the stand. I’ve been there, when it I testified for Stefan…but…the first time I see Luke after the trial, she’s dancing with him like nothing ever happened except that night of passion, I guess. So it’s hard to believe that she loved Mac so much and was completely willing to let go of Luke.”

“Felicia cares about Luke, but I don’t think she loves him the way she might be fooling herself now. I think it’s because she lost Mac, that she’s going after him again.”

“Bobbie, I understand Felicia’s point of view. She loves Mac, yet she was seduced by Luke. She went on the run with him and didn’t sleep with him until the very last minute. Don’t you know I’ve been there?”
Bobbie smiled. “Yeah, I know you have. But look at you now,” Bobbie said. “Scotty’s still in love with you!”

Laura looked down. “Maybe, I’d be the luckiest person in the world all over again if he loved me. I wasn’t sure I would ever admit to this wish, but I do. But we were children, Bobbie. It’s never gonna be like that again.”

Bobbie looked understandingly at Laura, then grabbed her hand.

“Well, whatever you do, do it for yourself. And I’ll be here. I have a small suggestion though.”

“What?”

“Tell Luke, how you’re feeling.”

Laura burst out laughing. “Oh, right! No. It’s too late, nothing I could ever say, could be a difference now. Besides, I don’t think he wants me around anymore than necessary. But I feel no threat if you feel you should tell him anything you think he should hear. He’s your brother, just leave out the most embarrassing things.”

“Just the basics, he should know. Just to torture him.”

“If you put it that way,” Laura said getting up from the seat.

They hugged, and Felicia came through the door. Her heart sank as Bobbie held Laura, and laughed, whispering something in her ear.

“I may be Luke’s brother and Felicia’s best friend, but you and I have been through so much and I am glad. I’m glad you’re a part of my life and I’m glad you come to me now and then.”

“I hope you’ll come to me too.”

Laura stepped down from the bench, looking at Bobbie. “Gotta go, I’m off to meet Scotty.”

Bobbie’s eyebrows rose. “Scotty, huh?”

“Yeah, Felicia can have Luke,” Laura said, turning around to see Felicia’s face.

“Hi Laura,” she said like a weak kitten.

“Hi Felicia,” Laura said and walked out.

________________________________________________________________________

The Next Day

Kelly’s Diner

Laura walked in, placing her purse down on the seat beside her, and she waited for Bobbie to come out. She looked around, wondering how Lucky was doing. Liz was such a terrific woman! She was glad they’d found that love, and hoped that they would always be honest with each other, unlike she and Luke had been.

“Bobbie, hi.”

“Well hi! You make these days so much better when I come out and see you.”

Bobbie came out and touched Laura’s hand.

“How are you?”
“Oh I’m all right. There are a lot of unanswered questions about Roy and my love life all together, but as soon as I somehow find them, I’ll be all right. How about you?”

“I was just thinking about our talks, these past few days, and I seem closer to you now than I ever have been.”

Bobbie smiled. “Thank God. You know you beat yourself up for all the stupid mistakes you’ve made in your life, but I will gladly take advice from you.”

“Oh please don’t!” Laura laughed.

“Absolutely. So…how’s Scott?”

“He’s great. We’re growing closer by the minute. We’re almost closer now than we were when we were children. It’s amazing how much our connection hasn’t changed. And you know what’s even more ironic? I always felt that Luke needed me in a way that Scotty never did. But Scotty’s still here, and still needs me, and Luke, I realize, was the one that never did. I was so lucky to have the love Scotty gave me, and I didn’t know it.”

Laura saw Bobbie’s eyes looking behind her and she turned around. Luke was there. She felt a little embarrassed, but the look in Luke’s eyes let her know he heard pretty much that whole conversation.

“Hi.”

She licked her lips. “Hi,” she said casually, not feeling guilty in the least little bit. She turned back to Bobbie. “Bobbie, call me sometime, because there’s so much more I’d like to say if you’d care to listen.”

“You got it. You take care!”

Laura brushed by Luke and walked out the door, not looking back. He watched her with puzzled eyes. He sat down shaking his head, then looked up at his baby sister.

“She…she doesn’t really believe that, does she?”
Bobbie looked up from writing something. “Can you blame her? I choose to believe that you really loved her, but from your actions with Felicia, I’ll never even expect her to think she should. Scotty does really love her, in the same way he did back then. I’ve seen them together.”

Bobbie walked to the kitchen, Luke sat back, chuckling sarcastically. A few minutes later, Barbara Jean came back.

“What’s wrong?”

He leaned in to her. “How could Laura think that Scott Baldwin could have loved about her as much as I did?”

Bobbie licked her lips and pretended to think. “Well, from her point of view, let’s see. She dumps an incredible husband who loves her for the man whom the world believes rapes her. After almost twenty years of the most intense love anyone’s ever felt, her husband gets the hots for a younger, beautiful woman. As her marriage falls apart, she holds on to one last thread. When that vanishes, and her husband has ruined two families, Scotty is there for her. Every second, never criticizing any of her feelings or choices. Her husband, knowing he’s ruined two families, isn’t at all concerned about his own family, only his one time mistress’s. And I can actually remember you telling me that. Then, while her husband divorces her, and is spending most of his spare time with his mistress, Scotty shows her how much he still loves her. And every time Laura turns around, you’re with Felicia. Any questions?”

Bobbie turns and leaves again.

Deception

Laura’s Office

The Next Day

Stefan bursted through Laura’s door, causing Laura to jump. Stefan doesn’t realize Bobbie’s walking back from the bathroom, through a side door of Laura’s office, fully able to hear everything he says.

“Can I help you?” Laura replies.

“Laura, you’ve got to help me get Nikolas to let me help him. You will help me. You owe me that much.”

Laura laughed. “I owe the man that faked his own death, framed my husband, and tore my son’s life apart? I’m sorry. I’m through with you.”

She stood up, and he felt his pulse speed up. He grabbed her arm.

“Let go of me,” she said slowly.

“Laura, we’ve been through too much-“

“Yes, way too much! I’m through with all you men who think you just have the right to run my life! You acted like it was my fault leaving that island and being taken away from my son!”

“Don’t change the subject-“

“Remember that night we spent together on the island?”
Just then, Luke, Lucky, and Nikolas came around the corner, but heard them arguing, so they waited, all of them listening.

“Of course, Laura, quit changing the subject-“

“Stavros raped me every night! You knew that! You knew I hated him. And I gave him a son! Do you know much I wanted to take that baby I loved away with me? But I didn’t know that Luke would see me and never let me go back.”

“You could’ve easily come back, to your son.”

“Oh, heaven forbid I want to escape being a prisoner, and being Stavros’s little toy. I tried to come back for my child, and my mother was killed. It is your fault that I didn’t get to be with my son! I wanted to come back but when I went home and saw everyone I ever loved, I knew I couldn’t go back and be Stavros’s token. And I hate you for actually expecting me too. That you thought I or my child deserved that.”

Luke was a little surprised they were arguing about this. So were both of Laura’s sons.

“You know I would never willingly leave my child! But I had no choice once I was given the options. You promised me you’d take care of my son until I could come back but I wasn’t able to. Did you get that thrill coming to save Lulu’s life in exchange for ruining my life? Was that fun?”
Bobbie had her ear pressed to the door. Stefan tightened his grip on Laura, looked at her mouth, then looked at her eyes again, and swallowed her mouth whole. They kissed for quite a long time, with anger and passion.

She pulled back after what seemed like an eternity, an intense eternity. Nikolas and Lucky wondering what the hell she was doing, not quite sure what she was doing, but had a damn good guess. Luke getting nauseas, and Bobbie rolled her eyes at Stefan’s obsession of her, and Laura looked at him with anger.

“Listen to me, Lasha, please,” he said a bit more desperate.

“Did you want me to stay on that island so I could stay married to a man who raped me just so I could spend a few nights with you? You know, every once in awhile when I could get away from Stavros, you and I could be together? Is that a life? When we could’ve gone anywhere else!”

“You certainly didn’t seem to mind being married to your first rapist.”

Laura’s eyes widened slightly. Luke felt anger pour over him, and Lucky looked at his father. The next thing Luke heard was an impact. Laura had calmly turned away, then surprised Stefan by turning back, wacking him with the back of her hand. His face bled, and Bobbie couldn’t believe she’d married this man.

“How can you stand there and say that to me?” Laura hissed. “I had no idea what rape was until your brother showed me. And when you threatened to tell Luke you could be the father of Nikolas and I asked you if you were sure, do you remember what you said?”

Stefan didn’t reply.

“You said that Luke wouldn’t mind which Cassadine was the father, just how many Cassadines had me!”

Bobbie made a disgusted face and even Nikolas was surprised that he had loved a man that could say that to a woman he was supposed to love.

“I regret saying that,” Stefan said. “But I can’t take it back so either you forgive me or you don’t. Can I ask you what happened when Stavros died? I’m sure it was ugly, but what happened?”

Laura swallowed. “You mean the part where he ripped my clothes and he held a knife to my throat, or when he began raping me and telling Luke he would brand me right in front of him?”

Luke’s heart stiffened, he’d forgotten.

Stefan touched her arm reassuringly. “He always spoke to you like that. He didn’t rape you though, did he?”

“No. I looked at Luke and he gave me a signal, so I played along and didn’t fight Stavros so Luke could knock him out. Luke and I ran but Stavros threatened us, fell down the stairs breaking his neck.”

He moved closer to her, shaking her lightly, and then touching her face with his hand. “Don’t you know that I’m the only one who understands? I was there the whole time. I loved you, I loved you more than I’d ever loved anyone. Nikolas is ours. That’s why you’ve got to help me get him back!”

Laura tried not to laugh. “Kinda the way you helped me get him when you first brought him into my life? Sort of the way you convinced him that I loved him?” Stefan looked away. “Oh come on, Stefan! You think I didn’t know you were spoon-feeding him lies about how and why I left! I wonder just how many times you told him I was ashamed of him!”

Laura the mascara running. Stefan brushed her tears away as best he could.

“Lucky actually asked me why I had sex with Stavros. I’ll never forget that. You weren’t the one that hurt me most. Nikolas wouldn’t let me touch him, Lucky for awhile considered me only as a liar and some sort of cheap imitation of a person, and Luke! God.”

He tried to hold her and she began to cry in his arms, very softly, surprising herself by still wrapping her arms around him.

“Laura/”

Luke came in. He pushed Stefan’s hands away from her, and then Bobbie, Lucky and Nikolas came in. Laura was shocked to see all of them just come out of nowhere.

“Luke,” she said surprised. “Nikolas, how long were you all there?”

“Laura, let me take you home,” Luke said.

He tried to take her hands but she pushed him away.

“Nikolas, tell me you didn’t hear anything.”

“Why didn’t you tell me,” Nikolas said reaching for her.

She hugged him tightly.

“I never wanted you to know. I never wanted to hurt you. Oh my God,” she said feeling so guilty.

“Lucky was right. I knew you hated my father but I didn’t know he raped you.”

Laura pulled away, turning away, ducking her head as she placed her hands on her desk for support. Bobbie came to her.

“Laura, let’s go. I’m gonna take you somewhere else. You can’t blame yourself for this.”

“Oh sure I can!” Laura shot back.

Bobbie pulled Laura and together they began to walk out.

“Barbara-“

“Luke! Leave her alone!”

As soon as they left, Luke grabbed Stefan by the throat.

“You are the scum of the earth, Cassadine! What, did you just get pleasure out of hurting my wife! Did you just get pleasure out of putting a son into her life whose mind you’d poisoned! Let alone saying those comments only you would come up with! I don’t care how much I felt betrayed, she didn’t deserve that from you.”

“Dad,” Lucky said, grabbing his father’s arm, which was still circling Stephan’s throat.

“You came in here to win points with your nephew! Using my wife as a tool? Framing me for your supposed death wasn’t enough?”

Stephan wasn’t at all shocked. “And what was your defense,” he said. “You say I hurt Laura, you finished her off. You never deserved her. You cheated on her.”
“She cheated on me with you!”

“Could you blame her? How did you treat her for having my brother’s son?”
“Oh both of you!” Lucky said. “My mother has lost it, this is not time for your wars! Come on, Dad.” Luke still didn’t let go of Stephan’s throat. “Dad!”

Luke slowly let go of Stefan and they walked out. Nikolas and Stefan left together, but didn’t speak. Nikolas was being angry and Stefan knew that.

________________________________________________________________________

Laura’s Bedroom

Three Days Later

“Scotty, you don’t have to stay any longer, you can go. I don’t mean to keep you.”
Scotty grabbed Laura’s face, keeping her eyes on his. She was so beautiful.

“There is no where else I’d rather be, and you know that.”
Just then, Luke came around the corner, and when he saw Scott’s hands on Laura’s face, he decided it would be a good idea to stay. Laura’s bedroom was an interesting place for them to be.

“Talk to me, Laura.”
She placed her hands over his. “It sucks, doesn’t it? I pictured it all the time. I’m sure it was beautiful, stunning and romantic and hot. All the things I dread now. All the things I haven’t felt in years. I keep seeing my husband-my ex-husband with another woman, and I wonder if I ever pop into his head? Does he remember us-“

She was so embarrassed she stopped and brushed his hands quickly away.

“God, could I be anymore selfish?” Scotty was confused. “Scotty, I’m sure those are the exact things you thought of when I ran off with Luke. And here I am spilling my heart out to you! Please, I’m so sorry.”

“You’re not hurting me, Laura. I can’t tell you I haven’t been in your place, but I’m not going to wish pain on you because I’ve had my own dose. Go on.”
“I’m sure you felt when I left you the way I do now. Maybe I deserve it, because I let you go.”

Luke stiffened.

“I just felt…I don’t know, desired. And now I don’t. And there is no one to blame but me. Because there was no one in the world better, stronger, as amazing as you.”

Scotty lunged forward and grabbed her again. She looked back and forth in his eyes.

“You know how much I want to touch you. How much I want to kiss you. You’ve known that forever! You used to drive me up the wall, you know, I don’t think you ever stopped!”

Laura giggled a little, as Luke’s face just outside the door was turning angrier. Bunching up in pure hate.

“I want to make you feel desired, Laura.”

She smiled, a single tear falling down the side of her cheek. “I want that too. I want you.”

He grabbed her, making her gulp for air, swallowing her whole. Luke left, about to throw up.

The Next Day

Deception

12:43 PM

Luke walked through the door, knocking on it as he saw Laura look up at him.

“Luke.”

She sounded happy, brighter. He’d go to pieces if he thought why she was this way.

“Laura, hi, what’s up?”
She straightened the paper’s on her desk.

“Busy.”

“What’s it like working with my sister’s daughter?”
Laura smiled. “Well, she has an ego about as large as yours, but…she also has some good ideas. She’s smart, and ambitious. But she’s especially ambitious about beating me.”

He smiled. The phone rang, and Laura answered it like a pro. When she got off, she was writing some stuff down, and then looked back up at him.

“I know you didn’t come here to talk about Carly.”

Luke tried to look casual. “Oh, no. I guess not. You feeling better?”

Laura looked up at him. “Feeling better? Meaning?”
“Since yesterday.”
“I’m fine,” she said, not really paying attention.

“Yeah, I’m sure you’re much better now,” he replied.

“Luke, you’re confusing the hell out of me, could you elaborate?”

“I stopped by yesterday.”

“Where,” she said.

“Home. And I noticed you weren’t alone.”
Laura could feel her face go red. “What did you hear?”
“You mean the part about me or the part with you and Scott?”

She had never been so furious in her life.

“When did you walk in, Luke,” she said, trying to remain calm.

“The part where Scott told you to talk to him, and you told him about picturing Felicia with me.”

“And…what, what’s the point now?”
“Well, I left before it got too graphic.”

Laura’s mouth dropped open. She ran over to him, her eyes bright and alert.

“You heard…and what, you just decided to stay?”

“I wasn’t peeking through the keyhole, no, but I heard what I heard. And I left just as things started to get really gory.”

Her face was amazed. She punched him with all her might in the stomach. Her eyes blazed anger, she looked just like she had on the sailboat that day twenty-one years ago.

“Get out of my office!”

“Whoa, hold on, Laura. Just calm down-“

“Don’t you tell me to calm down, there is a difference though I suppose, you probably wouldn’t mind at all, would you?”
He didn’t say anything.

“Just please, leave me alone! Don’t you know what you’ve already done to me? You wanna embarrass and humiliate me some more?”
“Embarrass you,” he said innocently. “I’m not the one that slept with Scott.”
“Stop it! Would you stop it? Don’t you think you’ve degraded me enough?”

“Laura, for one minute, could you just put away your pride, and be honest with me? What are you thinking?”

She laughed. “Why? Because that’s what you want to know, that’s what you want me to say so that you will feel like you have all the power over me still?”
“What? Laura.”
She turned her head towards him, her hair surrounding her face, but two tears hanging on each side of her face, any minute dropping to the floor.

“Do you have any idea what it’s like to want something you know you can’t have?”
“Oh no, Laura,” he said with a little anger and a little sarcasm. “I’ve never known what it was like to want you and not be able to have you.”
“I saw you kissing Felicia so happily, I understand that you need to be with her now, but if you could do me the honor of just staying away from me-“

“Why, you think that will make it easier?”
“What do you care?”
“Come on, you know I care-“

“Oh no I don’t. How could I?”

“You mean you meant what you said to Scott?”
“Oh yeah, damn right I meant it. I wish I’d done almost everything differently.”

“You really regret that much?”
Laura smiled, then smacked her lips together. “You know, I always felt the love you had for me. That’s what drove you to do a lot of those insane things you did. But when you touched me, I could feel how much you loved me. And that’s why I followed you. I would’ve done anything, and I did. You made me feel something indescribable. And I suppose it was just a little difficult to get used to the idea of you stopping.”

He blinked disbelieving. He grabbed her arm, yanking her to turn around. “What, are you crazy? I didn’t. That’s not what happened.”

“Really? Then explain it to me.”

He just realized he couldn’t. She looked at him, then knowing he couldn’t answer, she ran off.

An hour later, Laura stepped out of the General Hospital elevator, arguing with Luke. He had refused to leave her alone. Laura looked up to see Monica, Stefan, Lucky, Nikolas, Elizabeth, Bobbie, Scotty, and Felicia.

Everyone turned around like she’d lost her mind. Why was she looking at them like that when Luke was right next to her?

“Luke, I just realized that pretty much everyone looks at me the way you do. They are disappointed in me at the same things you are.”

She had everyone’s full attention, and none of them had seen her this angry.

“You,” Laura said pointing to Bobbie. “You want to question me on what’s right? You tried to get pregnant by Scotty so you could keep him away from me! You played every dirty trick in the book, and before we were thrown together by the idiot I’m standing next to, we worked very hard to get along! You call me a saint, a princess, and a tramp. Bobbie, pick one. I screw up, but to say that because I’m an “angel”, I shouldn’t screw up and listen to the man I loved?”

She turned around and looked at Luke, then turned back to Bobbie. “Did you tell Roy about your past? Did you not screw up terribly? You said I had no right to fake my own death, all of you were against it! It was stupid, wrong, and heartless. Stefan though, you can’t give me that line now, can you? Did I ever try to justify it what I did? To make it right? Every single one of you now knows that although Stefan has been a part of my life, he has screwed me over as often as I’ve ever disappointed him!”
“Laura, come on, it’s over now,” Scotty said, walking towards her.

Laura looked at Scotty with guilt yet anger. “I tried to be honest with you, but then I thought I was crazy, and I lied. I lied to protect you and then I tried to end the lies and you found out and you blew up! You had every right to, but for crying out loud, I was trying to do what I always did, and not hurt anyone! Yes Bobbie,” Laura said looking at her. “Yes I was afraid to tell Scotty the truth, but that wasn’t the main reason.”

“It’s over now, Laura-“
“Oh shut up!” Laura said to Luke. “Monica!”

Monica’s eyes widened. “My life was on the line! I was trying to save my mother. I couldn’t exactly think about the next day, I was trying to save what was left of my mother’s mind. If it had Emily, you would’ve allowed everyone in the world to think you were dead to protect her! Can you deny that?”
“No,” Monica said.

“And like you’ve messed up from a stupid man in your life that you loved?”
Luke tried to speak, and Laura’s eyes lit of anger. He stopped talking.

“You almost had a child with my father! When he was married to my mother! My mother delivered Alan Jr. and then you told her that it was her husband’s baby.”

Monica understood, and everyone else could actually understand that Laura shouldn’t take anymore from anyone.

“You all want me to stop acting like I do every thing right? FINE! I’m mad at all of you. Nikolas, Lucky. You both hated me cause I tried to keep you from killing each other! I made every stupid decision, trying to please both of you at different times, and no matter I did, I made you hate each other more. I guess when I stepped out of the picture, you two could look at each other. How ironic.”

Nikolas walked towards his mother, he just held her. “I did love you, I did love you,” she whispered to him over and over again. She opened her eyes and saw Stefan. She broke free from her son’s embrace and ran over to him. “You saved my life only to control it.”

Laura pointed at Luke. “What have you done? Both of you mess with my children, and you never let go of the hatred!”

Laura then looked around at everyone. Her eyes stopped on Monica.

“Monica, you blamed me for my lies and my own stupidity. Bobbie, you slapped me! How many of your husbands have you listened to? Luke, I am not your angel, because I don’t forgive you! You all said that I was so crazy for being paranoid about the Cassadines, I beg your pardon, but do you all so easily recall that I was held prisoner by the Cassadines for two years! I was branded. Every bit of food I took, every foot step I made was monitored! I was a prisoner, and I don’t think any of you understand how that feels, what it does to you. Even if Stefan had been a prince among men, him being thrown back into my life would’ve made anyone go a little crazy.”

“You’re right,” Bobbie said.

Felicia couldn’t believe Bobbie would defend her. Bobbie came through the small crowd and grabbed Laura.

“Come on, Laura, go ahead and yell at me.”

Laura’s feminine face looked so innocent, not knowing what to do. Bobbie slapped her hard, letting Laura release the pain through her tears. Bobbie ripped Laura to her, holding her, stroking her hair as she cried out all the emotion she’d hidden for years.

“That’s it, Laura, let it out. Please yell at me. You never get mad enough at anyone and you let them bring you lower and lower in your guilt.”

“I love you,” she said. “It always happens,” Laura said very quietly.

“What happens?”
“I think I make the right choice, I try to please everyone and I always screw up everything. I married Scotty because I loved him and then I fell in love with Luke for some stupid reason and I tried and I tried and Scotty found out and blamed me, and then I knew he was right and I ran, and then I came back and he was gone, and I found myself wanting a divorce.”

She coughed softly.

“When Scotty was gone, it was easier to believe I hadn’t hurt him so badly. Then he caught the bouquet and I could hear him calling me a tramp, and I could hear YOU calling me a tramp. That was such a big deal at the time. Then I thought I’d found love, someone who would never leave me, who needed me. And he stopped, he went away. He left me, he lied. He told he loved me and that I was his ANGEL! And then I waited, and I waited, and he never came home!”

A few eyes turned to Luke, and he didn’t know what to feel except stupidity. Laura lifted her head from Bobbie’s chest, but Bobbie held onto one hand.

“He went to you!” Laura said pointing to Felicia. “And you loved it! You loved proving to me that Luke was now yours! But you know what, I don’t blame you! I don’t blame you anymore! You weren’t married to me! You never owed me anything! But that never stopped you from throwing my mistakes in my face.”

She turned back to Bobbie and suddenly regretted all she’d said.

“I’m sorry, Bobbie. I’m so sorry-“

“Oh come on!” Bobbie smiled. “You know what it was, Laura? I did play every nasty trick to get the men I wanted! Scotty wasn’t even the first, and he certainly wasn’t the last! But that was the first time I faked a pregnancy-“ they both laughed. “You always give everything you’ve got. And you deserved more than what you’re left with. And you think this was bad, think to our first fights.”

Felicia had steam coming out of her ears from her best friend betraying her this way.
“I love you, and I apologize for my own hatred towards you. You had everything I wanted.”

Laura laughed, wiping her tears. “Don’t be. I’m obviously not one to be jealous of. I didn’t win, did I Bobbie?”
Monica went to Laura. Laura’s felt immediately drowned in guilt.

“Oh Monica,” she said in a tiny voice. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what I’ve done, I’m so sorry…” Monica just held her.

“You’re right.”

“You apologized before, it just hurt me so bad. I didn’t wanna hurt anyone, and Luke and I are usually on the run for a reason! Sometimes it’s even a good reason.”

Monica laughed.

“I couldn’t love you more if you were my own daughter. I wish we could’ve been together all these years. I love you.”

Monica walked with Laura, and Stefan stopped her, touching her face momentarily. She attempted a smile, asking him to forgive her. She saw his regret, she knew he was sorry. She held his hand momentarily.

“I’m sorry too,” she said.

Bobbie, who still stood by Laura, touched her shoulder and she turned.

“I love you everyday that the man I love doesn’t choose you.” Bobbie laughed. “Go, get out of here, let it go. You have everything it takes to be anything you want.”

“I learned from you. You were always stronger than me.”

Monica took Laura out of the hospital. Bobbie looked at Luke with pure hate, then walked off. Nikolas had tears in his eyes and Lucky was still in shock because for the first time he heard his mother. What she was really saying, what she’d always said that he never heard.

________________________________________________________________________

Two months later, Laura was taking a walk beside the river she and Luke and fallen into after jumping out of a plane. The river cascaded along, and she remembered being trapped in it, and Luke saving her. Despite the fact that he’d practically pushed her out of a plane, when he pulled her up out of the water, cupped her face and looked at her that way, she would forgive him anything…and she did.

She heard screaming, and Felicia came into view. Laura ran towards her, genuinely concerned, for she’d never seen Felicia this way.

“Felicia, what the hell’s the matter?”

“Georgie! She’s gone! I brought her here for a picnic and-she’s ONLY nine years old!”

“All right, calm down,” Laura said, gripping the back of Felicia’s head. Laura then saw a man in the background, and she pushed Felicia to the ground, collapsing on top of her as the shots rang out.

“GEORGIE!”

“Shh, we’ll find her!”

“No, my little girl! Laura, come on, you’ve got to help me, you don’t want Georgie to be taken, those men were following me and my child! They’ve got my daughter!”

“I know, and you’re damn right, they will never harm your child.” Laura said, caressing Felicia, not concentrating on the past two years, but the early eighties. Felicia was screaming, tears puddling right under her eyes. Laura clutched Felicia to her.

“Felicia, calm down!”

“She’s my daughter!”

“I understand, believe me, I do! But you’ve got to-“

Laura’s eyes saw only black, and then all seemed to fade.

Laura Webber Spencer woke up cold, and in some sort of dungeon. She looked around, and the person she truly despised in the world, Felicia Scorpio Jones. Her lips were blue and her face was as pale as she’d ever seen. Laura ran over to her, and curled her up in her arms, trying to keep her warm. That’s when she noticed how badly Felicia’s head had been damaged.

“Felicia. Felicia!”

“Georgie…” Felicia’s blue eyes opened to meet Laura’s equally blue ones.

“Felicia, it’s Laura.”

Felicia saw Laura. “Where are we?”
“I don’t know, are you all right?”

“Cold…I’m cold.”
Laura ripped off her black jacket and wrapped Felicia in it. Felicia was shivering, her teeth chattering. Laura tried to hold her close, to warm her up.
“Laura, please, help me, don’t leave me now…my daughter, Mac…I’m so tired.”

“I’m not going anywhere, I don’t think either of us are right now. I will help you anyway I can. Are you in pain?”

“My head.”

“What’s wrong with it?”
“Aches, they must have knocked me out, is it bleeding?”

Laura reached and touched Felicia’s blonde hair, and she gasped in pain. Laura felt the pain in her own head as well, but blood covered Laura’s hand.

“Oh God! Felicia, you’ve got to stay conscious.”

“I’m so tired.”

“No you’re not! Tell me about Georgie.”

While Felicia slowly rambled on about Georgia, Laura tore off her jacket, not minding the cold, and wrapped it around Felicia’s head, tightening it, hoping to stop the bleeding. Felicia passed out.

“Felicia!”

She was gone.

“Dammit!” Laura ran to the small window with bars. The window didn’t open to the outdoors. She screamed but knew no one would hear her. Just as she gave up hope, Helena Cassadine walked in.

“Well, Laura, it’s been a long time since we were in this situation, let me think, 1981, was it?”

“What do you want,” Laura hissed.

“You and your husband’s lover are my captives for awhile.”

“Yeah, I got that,” Laura said sarcastically. “Look, Felicia has done nothing. What have you done to her child?”

“Georgie? What a beautiful little girl-“

“Shut up, dammit! Helena, where is Felicia’s daughter?”

“She’s perfectly all right, I have no interest in that child, she’s going to wake up in her own bed. Felicia on the other hand, now look at her on the floor.”

“So, what? Do you want us to die now?”

Helena laughed. “No Laura. That would ruin my plans of Luke.”

“Luke! What are you doing to him?”

“You still love him,” Helena smiled.

Laura ignored that. “What the hell have you done to Luke?”

“Nothing, that’s what you’re here for. As a distraction for him.”

“Well, if you’d like us to survive, you may want food and blankets, and if you’re feeling really generous, maybe a doctor because one of you crazy hit men knocked Felicia a little too hard in the head.”

“Oh Laura, you’ve always asked too much-“

“She could DIE!”

“Such concern for your husband’s mistress.”

“Oh shut up! You don’t scare me anymore, just let Felicia go. I am the one you want!”

“You’re right, Luke’s interest is more in you than Felicia.”

Helena saw Laura wasn’t convinced of that.

“Oh come on, Laura, tell me you haven’t noticed? Luke is quickly losing interest, and he is coming around, back to the love of his life that neglected to tell him she bore another man’s child.”

Laura rolled her eyes.

“Exactly, so let Felicia go.”

Helena smiled and was gone. Laura sighed and yanked the bars one more time before turning back to Felicia.

“Felicia!”

Felicia was out. Laura struggled to lift Felicia up and drag her onto the little cot they called a bed. She lied Felicia on it, and when Felicia shivered again, Laura ripped off her blouse and curled Felicia up in it. Laura was left in her bra, yet it still wasn’t enough. Felicia was freezing. Laura pulled her into her arms and lied down with her, body heat may help.

Hours passed and Laura fell asleep with Felicia in her arms. A little twitch awakened Laura.

“Laura?”

Laura’s big blue eyes opened to meet Felicia’s equally blue.

“You all right?”

“Where are we?”

“We are at the moment Helena Cassadine’s captives.”

“Why?”
“Who knows why Helena does anything,” Laura said, trying to keep Felicia from thinking about Luke.

“It’s because of Luke. Helena has my daughter!”
“Helena, I don’t think she does.”

“How do you know?”

“Because unfortunately, I know Helena very well. And I can tell when she’s lying and what her priorities are.”

“But it is because of Luke, isn’t it?”

Laura said nothing.

“We have to get out of here.”

“I know Helena, we’re not going anywhere for awhile. I just hope Luke doesn’t get hurt.”

Felicia ignored that remark, agreeing wasn’t the best idea. “I’m starving.”

“So am I.”

“Laura, help me…” Felicia said.

“Okay,” Laura said holding her. “Just lie back, relax. I will get help.”

“I’m still so cold, and I can’t see very well.”

“Just sleep then, I’ll keep you warm.”

Felicia passed out again, and Laura held her, keeping her as warm as she could. Quickly though, Laura dozed off also. For what seemed like hours later, she awoke, Felicia still out cold, her face pale. Laura saw some blankets and some food.

“Felicia, wake up, can you hear me?”

“What?”

“We have food.”

Felicia shot up, then got very dizzy, and Laura caught her.

“Be careful, Felicia. I’ll feed you.”

Laura aided Felicia, wrapping her in blankets and feeding her with her hands. Though Laura was hungry, it was obvious who needed the food more. Felicia ate it all, then collapsed back into a deep sleep. How long would this last? And how long could Felicia last?
________________________________________________________________________

Three Weeks Later

Time Unknown

Laura and Felicia began to talk a little, try to distract themselves from the fear. Laura still let Felicia have all the food. Laura felt her insides cramp up from starvation. She needed a shower. So did Felicia.

“Do you miss Frisco?”

“Yeah. I remember the first time we talked. I don’t think I was even attracted to him as I snuck under his bed trying to get my treasure back. But the first time he spoke, I was afraid he would figure me out, that I was a girl, and he did, and after that, I guess it was history.”

“You believe he loved you, don’t you?” Laura asked almost as a way to see if she could believe Luke still loved her.
“It’s hard, he left me, over and over. He made me wanna live, he made me wanna stay, and ever since then I’ve been trying to get that back, get that feeling back…” Felicia trailed off.

“And that’s why you’re so attracted to Luke. He reminds you of Frisco.”

Felicia looked away.

“Mac made you feel to settled down, but Frisco was the passion.”

Felicia still didn’t say anything.

“I understand,” Laura said. “When I was a child, and married to Scotty, I ached for something more. And I got it. I got it in a package that was even too wild for me, but I loved every minute of it.”

“Laura, did he really…rape you?” Felicia said, a little embarrassed to be asking.

Laura rolled her eyes. “Why does that stick in everyone’s mind?” she laughed. “I thought Luke and I were more than that!”

Laura paused, then decided to answer.

“No. Not rape in the actual term it is. You really think I could fall in love with a man who raped me? It was love at first sight, and I wanted him, even that night. But that night he was out of his mind, and I hadn’t admitted anything inside my head. Rape means you feel hate, it has nothing to do with love, and you feel violated. I felt violated in that he understood our attraction and recognized it when I hadn’t. But hate…that was Stavros Cassadine. Luke was just a whirlwind of pain and confusion, but after that night, everything seemed to fall into place, but I couldn’t accept it. I know what Luke did was out of love. He didn’t mean to hurt me, I don’t think he even remembers it all. He wasn’t there. But I knew he would never mean to hurt me, and quickly I learned to believe he would never hurt me, not until…”

“Until me,” Felicia said.

“Yeah. After that though we still look and at each other and hold each other, there’s so much pain.”

“Our night was pain also, but I just needed something to hold onto. And I think he did too. So we did. Laura, he made me feel things I hadn’t felt since Frisco. He makes me feel the way Frisco did…but…I don’t think it real.”

Felicia turned away.

“I thought I could win. I thought I could be everything he wanted me to be, and I tried. But I don’t think I’ll ever mean to him what you meant to him.”

Laura looked down. “Yeah well, I think it’s too late. I think because of my lies and his lies that we can’t build again on trust.”

That was all they said.

“Well, this is new. The wife and the mistress having a heart to heart.”

Laura ran to the bars that Helena looked cruelly through.

“It’s been weeks, Helena. Luke and Mac and our children are dying with worry.”

“You are absolutely right. And Luke is close to finding you, which I hope will be a lesson. I’m just debating on whether or not he should find you the way you are, or with a slightly less healthy state.”

“Don’t hurt Felicia, she has nothing to do with this. This is between Luke and me and you.”

“A first born for a first born.”

“Stavros raped me! I was his prisoner!”
“Stravos loved you, and you loved Luke, he was no different if you call it rape.”

Felicia watched as Laura reached through the bars and slapped Helena, her eyes flashing.

“Laura, will you ever be able to control yourself?”

“There is no comparison, what Stavros did and what happened with Luke and me do not fit in the same category. Have you ever been raped Helena?”

“Stavros gave you everything you could have wanted-“
“Except my body, except my mind, except my freedom!”

“Stavros made you the princess of our dynasty. He gave you a beautiful island, and had you just forgotten the past, you could’ve been everything in the world. But no, you had to run back to your pathetic husband and murder my son!”

Laura rolled her eyes. “I didn’t murder him. Neither did Luke. He fell down the stairs himself and broke his neck-dammit I don’t wanna argue about this anymore! Felicia is hungry, and freezing, and sick-“

“Looks to me that she’s been eating the food for the last three weeks. And that’s why you look like death yourself.”

Laura threw her hands up in the air. “God, why do I even bother? Felicia has two children! And so do I! Felicia hasn’t been around when Mikkos was killed, or Stavros, or the beginning of this whole damn mess! Let her go!”

Helena just walked away. Felicia moaned in pain. Laura ran over to her, though fatigued herself from lack of food.

“Felicia, you all right?”

“I’m just a little…weak. Laura, I’m sorry. Despite how much you hate me, you’re thinking about me as a mother, instead of an enemy.”

Laura held her close, then cupped her face.

“I don’t hate you, I just hate what you did. But being with you, I see you as a person instead of the women who took my husband.”

“You make me feel strong.”

Laura felt her own stomach muscles cramp up from starvation. She even felt nauseous from what was happening to her body. The freezing temperature and the lack of rest. Felicia fell asleep in her arms again, and it was almost as if they had been friends since the Aztec adventure. As if none of the last two and a half years had happened. None of that mattered anymore. They were forced to be face to face, and understand. In that, Helena had given them both a gift.

A Little Over a Week Later

Time Unknown

Felicia was asleep on the hard bed as Laura thought she would pass out at any moment. Her blonde hair was greasy and unbrushed, but Felicia’s looked even worse, her roots showing. Though only a darker blonde, it was noticeable.

“Felicia?”

“Yeah?”

“You okay? I know we’ll be outta here soon. I will not let you die.”

“Why,” Felicia asked weakly. “I got pleasure out of hurting you, but I never really won anything but pain.”

“You didn’t get pleasure out of hurting me.”

“Oh yes I did! I took whatever I could from you. I made you feel like you were a failure, because I’d lost my life.”

Laura came over and covered her up.

“Well, you did a good job,” Laura said.

“So why do you care if I live or die?”

“Because your children love you.”

“I’m trying, Laura. I want to be with my girls.”

“Come here,” Laura said, holding her close.

“You did what I never did. You created your own life. After Frisco, I just kept searching and I have given myself away to every man until now there’s a hole inside me that I feel can only be saved by a man. So I found Luke.”

“Survive yourself. Know that Frisco loved you, and go on. You don’t need to replace him, just remember him.”

“Sometimes Maxie will move just the way he does, and it just stabs me. What if I never see him again-“
“You will.”
“I’d give anything if he’d come rushing through these doors and hold.”

Laura said nothing, but realized how much she could’ve ended up like Felicia. Empty and searching. Felicia had done more than apologize. And Laura still felt empty, but never wanted to search for Luke again in someone else. It was impossible.

“I grew up, Felicia, and I had to let go of the dream.”

Felicia laughed sarcastically. “How do you do that? Just let go of your dream?”

“I have to survive to take care of my daughter.”

Felicia opened her fatigued eyes with comfort as she stared into Laura’s.

“I’m sorry,” Felicia said.

“Me too.”

“Please check on my children, Laura. Mac, make sure they’re all okay.”

“No, come on Felicia!” Felicia began closing her eyes. “I’m not gonna LET you do this!”

Then Felicia passed out. Laura felt tears slipping down her face, and she felt true friendship for this woman. She smacked Felicia’s face lightly, shaking her. She even dumped what little water they’d had left. Laura found herself too weak to do much more for her, from her own lack of weeks of food. She nearly passed out herself, as her muscles and bones ached, yet she ran over to the bars and screamed praying anyone would hear her.

Six Hours Later

2:14 AM

“LAURA!”

Laura didn’t wake up as Luke rushed through the bars with Roy. She was passed out, as well as Felicia. Laura’s body had wasted away, and she now looked as bad as Felicia. Luke kneeled down beside her, lifting her head onto his knee.

“Laura, Laura, can you hear me?”

She didn’t respond.

“Roy, get over here, help me!”

Roy bent down to Laura. He checked her pulse as Luke’s breathing became hard and uneven with fear.

“She’s got a pulse, but look at her. But I know she’ll survive, she’s too strong not to.”

She didn’t wake up. He and Roy gathered her up off the floor, and then Roy saw Felicia.

“Luke, it’s Felicia.”

“Helena kept them both like this? How could she do this to them?”

“This explains why Laura’s so sick,” Roy said.

“What the hell are you talking about? Felicia’s head looks damaged. Her hair is drenched in blood.”

Luke scooped Laura’s limp body up in his arms. “Well, don’t just stand there, Roy, get Felicia and let’s get them the hell out of here.”
________________________________________________________________________

Six Hours Later

7:15 AM

Bobbie came racing through the hospital doors.

“Luke!”

“Barbara, Laura’s fine. Felicia’s going to be fine.”

“Is it true? Laura and Felicia were held prisoner, and Laura took care of Felicia?”

“Felicia keeps saying Laura’s name, and all the food was given to Felicia. But Felicia’s in a coma.”

“Laura did all that?”

Bobbie looked away, amazed. Then she looked angrily back at Luke.

“Maybe this’ll be a lesson to you to stop putting people you’re supposed to care about on the line. I’m going to check Felicia’s charts and then I’m going to see Laura. Do not see either of them, Luke, you’re the reason my best friend and my sister in law are in the hospital.”

Luke was left bewildered. He walked right into Laura’s room without even acknowledging what Barbara had said. She was sleeping peacefully, a little too peacefully. He touched her cheek with the back of his hand and she opened her eyes in fear, gasping.

“It’s all right, you’re safe.”

“Luke. You okay? You’re fine?”

“Yes, I’m fine. You’re still very weak, just rest.”

“Where’s Felicia? Where is she?”

“Bobbie’s checking on her, I think she’ll be fine. You’ll be outta here tomorrow.”

Laura closed her eyes. “It’s my fault. It’s my fault what’s happened to her.”
“How can you say that? You saved her.”

“I gotta talk to her,” Laura said trying to move. Luke stopped her.

“You can’t!”

“Why, because I’m too weak?”
“No. She’s in a coma.”

“What? Is she gonna wake up?”

“We all think so. Don’t worry about it.”

“Don’t worry about it? It’s my fault, I’ve gotta see her-“

“Laura, baby-“

“Don’t baby me, let me go!”

He threw her back against the bed.

“You are gonna chill.”

“Luke, I’ve got to talk to her, I’ve gotta do something.”

Luke was beyond shocked that Laura was feeling this way.

“Do you need me to stay with you,” he asked.

She looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “Do I need you to stay?”

Before he could answer, Bobbie came through the door.

“Luke, dammit, I told you to leave her alone!” She grabbed his shirt from behind as he humorously objected, and she threw him out, yelling at him the whole time. Bobbie slammed the door behind her and rolled her eyes.

“Hey, how you feeling? Sorry about that.”

“It’s all right. You don’t have to throw him out. I honestly don’t want anyone protecting me anymore. Let me kill him.”

“Okay,” Bobbie said casually.

“Is Felicia gonna wake up?”

“God, I hope so. Her signs look good. You’re gonna be outta here tomorrow!”

“How’s Lulu?”

“She’s fabulous. I brought her.”

Laura looked up and saw her daughter.

“Oh, hi sweetheart,” her eyes full of happiness. “Come here.” Lulu ran into her mother’s arms.

Before Laura could get a good grip on her child, Lucky and Nikolas broke threw the doors screaming “MOM” and hugged her. This was comfort. Bobbie smiled. God she missed BJ.

Two Days Later

8:13 AM

Laura walked into Felicia’s hospital room. Laura was extremely weak still too, but she had eaten and was still planning to do all Tony told her to. Felicia’s room was empty and silent. She walked over calmly. Sitting down, she touched Felicia’s hand. Mac had just left to go check on the kids. They were divorced, she was now just the mother of the children he loved more than life.

“Felicia, it’s me. It’s Laura. We had a pretty bad adventure together, but the adventure’s over…and you’re safe. So you gotta wake up. Your daughters miss you so much. Could you give me a sign that you’re at least trying to wake up?”

Laura let go of Felicia’s hair. “I can uh…brush your hair.”

Laura stood up and brushed Felicia’s hair softly. Bobbie opened the door silently, surprised to see Laura there, and silently watched.

“You know, I don’t want you to feel like there should be any hesitation in opening your eyes and living again. I don’t want you to feel guilty anymore. Don’t get me wrong, you hurt me, and you loved it, but it’s all over now. Don’t let Luke ruin your life, and don’t let me. I saw you as…as a friend, and not as the other woman. Maxie and Georgie need you so much. Maxie doesn’t wanna see you until you wake up. Can you hear me, Felicia?”

Laura sighed. “Open your eyes, dammit. Come on Felicia, open your eyes, open your eyes and look at me. If you can’t open your eyes, then tell me how I can get you to open your eyes. Please, Felicia.”

Just then Laura turned to see Bobbie. She dropped the brush and Felicia’s blonde hair.

“I’m sorry, Bobbie.”

“It’s okay-“

“Am I not supposed to be in here? I just wanted to talk to her, tell her we were out of danger-“

“Laura, you are trying to save her. You have done nothing wrong.”

Laura looked back at Felicia’s pale face. “Yeah well, maybe her hearing my voice puts her into a deeper coma.”

Bobbie took Laura’s hand. “No, that’s not true. But I had no idea you could be any better of a person that I already knew you to be, but you just proved it.”

Bobbie pulled Laura’s body close to hers and held her.

“Wanna go get some lunch?”

“Sure.”

Laura walked over to Felicia one more time. “You have daughters, be the mother you want to be and open your eyes. Leave the guilt with the coma, and you walk out of it.”

Kelly’s

An Hour Later

Bobbie and Laura talked about Roy, and their children, but both thought about Felicia.

“You know, Felicia survived watching Maxie almost die, and you know that’s much harder than being in your own pain. So Felicia’s going to wake up.”

“Bobbie, don’t be strong. She’s your best friend. And I’m here for you now, and I will do whatever I can to bring her back. If you have even the slightest suggestion of what I can do for you-“
“Laura, you’ve done enough. Roy is being so good to me-“

“ROY! Perfect! Oh, I gotta go,” Laura said grabbing her purse and shooting out the door.

A Week Later

General Hospital

10:02 PM

“Laura, where is she?”
Laura stopped and held his hand in front of Felicia’s door.

“You have to talk to her the way you used to. Be honest, don’t worry about anyone’s feelings, you just have to bring her back.”

“I will do anything, you know that.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Thank God you found me.”

Laura smiled. “Anytime, Frisco.”

He flashed that seductive smile at Laura accidentally, and bolted into Felicia’s room.

“Damn,” Laura whispered to herself.

Felicia’s Room

Frisco felt tears prickling his eyes. He sat down and gripped Felicia’s hand.

“Felicia, it’s me.” He paused. “I really don’t know what to say except I’m sorry. I need you to wake up.” He paused again. “And I need you to know how much every minute of everyday I’m thinking of you. But I know I have a lousy way of showing it.”

She didn’t respond. He took her tiny hand and touched it to his cheek, rubbing skin to skin.

“Can you feel me, Felicia? Can you feel how much our girls need you to wake up? How much…I need you to wake up? I need you, Felicia,” he whispered fearfully. “I need you. If you’ll forgive me everything, there’s nothing I won’t do.”

The room seemed dead, her with it.

“Do you remember at the end of our Aztec adventure in 84, when you were telling me you didn’t know who to believe in? You said you’d be careful before you believed in anyone else and I begged you to believe in me? Remember what you said? You said there was so much you had to do first, that you weren’t ready? Remember? I know you do. It was out in the backyard of your grandmother’s house in Texas. You were wearing a white dress and cowgirl boots. Do you remember what I said?”

He paused. “I said people were more important than places. God, if only I’d listened to myself. Because honestly, all these years away from you, and I never thought I wouldn’t come back to you, and if you leave me now, I know that my whole life will have been a waste. Worse than a waste. Don’t leave me, Felicia. Open your eyes.”

In that moment, Felicia’s eyes seemed to struggle. He noticed a large tear collide down her closed eye, as they both struggled to wake up.

“Come on, that’s it, come on Princess, be as strong as I know you are.”

She continued the process of forcing her tired eyes open. Finally, they blinked open, seeing the love of her life with tears streaming down his face in front of her.

“Frisco,” she cried.

He pulled her into his arms, both of them crying. He held her head close, which hurt just a little. The wounds weren’t fully healed. She didn’t care. If only this moment could last.

“I love you, Felicia.”

“I wanted you to come and rescue me so much.”

She pulled back and sniffed, then lied back, still weak. “Who told you?”

“Laura came and got me.”

“Laura! Oh my God, is she all right?”

“Yeah, she’s fine.”

“She found you, to help me?”

“Yeah.”

“God, I have to talk to her. Get her for me?”

“Okay, sure.”

He tenderly touched her face, making her heart speed up. Still. That was far from the last time he touched her that night. Laura walked in a few minutes later.

“Laura!”

“Felicia, God, you’re awake.”

“Laura, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“My God look at you, you didn’t eat anything the whole time, did you?”

“You had a head injury. I wanted to make sure you got all you could.”

Felicia felt so guilty. “I owe you my life, Laura. I owe you more than my life. You forced me to wake up-“

“Frisco did-“

“No, you did.”

Laura smiled.

“I felt you brushing my hair and holding my hand. Through your strength and your words I became conscious.”

Maybe they would never be close, or friends, but they cared. They had each other to thank. Felicia’s honesty and Laura’s strength. Frisco stood behind her.

“Oh, excuse me, Frisco.”

“Not at all, Laura. Doesn’t she look beautiful?”

That hurt Laura a bit. She turned back to Felicia. “She always did,” and then she left.

Frisco looked at Laura strangely as she left, then sat down facing the lady of his heart.

“What’s up with you two?”

Why deny it? He’d hear it soon as long as Amy Vining was in this hospital.

“I slept with her husband,” Felicia said flatly.

“Luke? You slept with him? What…what the HELL were you thinking?”

“Frisco, look at who’s talking.”

“Are you in love with him? After what he and Laura have been through?”

“I thought I did,” was all she could say. “You said you needed me, did you mean that?”
“More than I can ever ask you to believe.”

“Then don’t leave.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Laura outside bumped into Luke.

“Laura, hi.”

“Hi, where are you going?”

He hesitated. “I was going to see Felicia.”

“Oh no, you’re not.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Frisco is in there, and I will kill you before I let you go in there and do something stupid.”

“Frisco’s back?”
“Yes. I found him and brought him back to her.”

“You what?”

Laura smiled egotistically, but she was cute about it. “Yes. Now would you like to walk towards the exit or would you like to test me?”

Five Days Later

General Hospital

3:13 PM

Felicia was out of the hospital, and although she knew she loved Frisco, that he was the one, a single thread held onto Luke. She had to see him one last time. She was still fascinated by him. There was still hope. She walked into General Hospital to find Bobbie, in hopes she would know where Luke is. She was sitting on the couch talking to Laura. Felicia sat watching.

“…Felicia is awake because of you. How did you do it? Find Frisco?”

Laura smiled. “You think Luke is the only one who knows how to do stuff like that? The first ten years of Lucky’s life, I had more than half the brains. It was easy to track down Frisco. It was facing him that was hard. But he couldn’t have been more anxious to see Felicia. And I’m glad.”

Bobbie touched Laura’s hand. “You saved my best friend’s life, Laura. And even if you weren’t married to my brother, I would’ve still loved you. Despite my years as a hooker and a liar, I came out of it. Who would’ve expected that?”

Bobbie laughed, but Laura was serious. “Me,” she said pointing to herself. “I would have. I knew you could’ve been anything. And you have been. You have been my sister, my friend.”

“You are that princess I always thought you were.”

“Oh please!” Laura laughed. “I was so young and stupid and naïve and…I fell for your brother!”
Bobbie smiled. “Yeah, well I fell for your husband!”

Felicia felt something sharp pressing the inside of her heart.

“You know, after all these years, from our first year who would’ve thought we could stand each other?”

“Love conquers all,” Bobbie replied.

Laura stopped smiling. “Does it?”

“If it means anything, Laura, you were the best thing that ever happened to Luke. You made the world see the good in him, and maybe even some of the good in me. You were the eyes in which everyone saw Luke. They still do.”

“I wish they wouldn’t at this time.”

“Despite both your mistakes, you both know that there will never be anything like what you two had. And through his eyes, I saw you. And that’s why I loved you. That’s why I still do. It’s just a tad hard to forget that my first love, my brother, and my latest husband all left me for you.”

Laura rolled her eyes. “You still have Roy, and I don’t have Luke.”

“Do you want to?”

“How do I even begin to answer that? I gotta go, Bobbie,” Laura said standing up.

Bobbie changed the subject back to them, and held her. Felicia stepped back, pretending to walk their way.

“Felicia!” Bobbie said.

Laura walked past Felicia, not angry, but assuming this would be a moment for Bobbie and Felicia.

“Laura,” Felicia said.

Laura jumped a little, turning back. Felicia gripped Laura’s hand.

“Thank you.”

Laura smiled genuinely, though a little uncomfortable, and then Felicia slowly hugged her. A light hug, that made Laura’s eyes almost pop out of her head. Felicia shook a little. Bobbie smiled, watching them. Laura let her go and looked her right in the eyes.

“You follow your heart,” Laura said.

“You do the same.”

Laura smiled and walked away.

________________________________________________________________________

Luke’s Office

A Month Later

Laura walked into Luke’s office, after it was all over.

“Oh dear, what’d I do now?”

Laura let a small smile touch her lips.

“Same damn thing you always do, Luke, confuse me. I just came here to tell you that Felicia’s back at home, and she’s fine. Helena Cassadine won’t hurt her again.”

“Why are you telling me this, Laura?”

“I thought you’d care.”

“I care, but what’s really going on here? Are you all right? The Cassadines are still going to use you to get to me.”

“Why me?”

“Laura, we have a past.”

“Exactly, a past.”

“Luke, I could’ve been killed, and Felicia could’ve too, I gotta go.”

“Laura, quit running!”

She turned back. “Well if that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black.”

“There’s a reason they took you.”

“Yes, I am the mother of your children. They took Felicia for you.”

“Would you forget about Felicia? And I don’t think the Cassadines believe we still don’t care about each other.”

“Well I do.”

“What?”

"You betrayed everything I thought we had for ten seconds of muscle contractions with a younger woman."

Luke just studied her.

"Scotty never would've done that to me," Laura said, heading for the door.

Luke roughly grabbed her and fiercely wiped the lipstick off her face with his fingers, streaking it, and then smothered his mouth with hers. He breathed her in, crushing her lips painfully, then ran his tongue smoothly along the bottom of hers. He kissed her over and over, then as quickly as he reached for her, he pulled her back. Laura pushed him back lightly, and he grabbed her arms.

“Take your hands off me,” she said seriously.

He did. She walked away from him. Before he could say anything else, she threw the photo of the two of them he had on his desk to his stomach, and it shattered to the floor.

“That’s what’s left, Luke.”

Luke slowly bent down and picked up the shattered frame. He held it up to her.

“The frame is broken, but the photo’s still perfect.”

She wasn’t sure what he meant by that.

"Laura, please come back."

She didn't move. He then moved closer to her.

"If you come any closer I swear to God I'll break your neck!"

"Laura, Laura, just tell me what you want me to say."

"Luke! I don’t know what you could say! It’s a little late. So many things could’ve been said months ago and it would’ve changed things. But it can’t now.”

"God Laura, you don't change a bit. You play with my head, and you just leave it with more questions that will never be answered!"

“Me! You’re the one that left me with a spark!”

He said nothing at first, then found some words. “Laura, I haven’t had anything in my life that meant anything in a long time. And you’re still here and I still want you here.”

He started leaning in, but she turned her head. He gripped her face, turning it back, and for some reason she just let it be. He pressed his mouth on hers. He opened her mouth with his lips and pulled her upper lip into his mouth, nipping it and suckling roughly. He wrapped his arms around her and eventually, when the fear was pushed away by his passion, she relaxed and remembered him. Remembered this. Pretty soon, he was placing soft, loving kisses all over her face. Her cheeks, her forehead, her nose, her lips. It was making her remember how much she loved the son of a bitch. She pulled back from him and hit him.

"You lied to me!"

"You lied back!"

He grabbed her arm and slammed the door with his foot, before knocking everything off of his desk and pushing her onto it. His hands ran through her hair briskly, and she whispered his name. He pushed her harder against the desk, massaging his lips with his own. Laura cupped his face to push him back for a second.

Laura allowed Luke to pull her roughly towards him, and kiss her. She ran her fingers through his hair, he knocked the rest of the stuff off the desk. He passionately stroked his tongue with hers, then tasting delicately the corners of her mouth.

“Luke,” she said softly.

He breathed her in, his hands gripping the back of her head, as he pushed her back, knocking her head against the desk. She looked at him with her baby blue’s, and turned her look amazingly enough to both shy and seductive. She began to unbutton his shirt, lightly letting her lips touch his, then quickly pulling back.

“Do you want me, Luke?”

He tried to answer her with a kiss, but that wasn’t good enough. She allowed him to kiss her though, his tongue gliding with hers, as she flicked his buttons off the material, almost too quickly to keep the buttons intact. She released his lips, looking at him. Laura turned away, then looked back at him, licking her lips.

“Luke,” she said, pulling him back against her.

“I need you, Laura,” he said trying to catch her lips, but she ducked lightly, deciding to place a trail of kissing down his neck to his newly revealed chest.

“Are you sure,” she said planting soft, wet kisses on him. “Luke,” she said between deep kisses.

“Laura,” he said before kissing her hungrily, wrapping her in his arms, imprisoning her lips and body in his touch.

As he tightly held her, his body pulling hers closer, she forced herself to stop him, and stand up away from him, looking down on him with her eyes flashing anger. Give him a taste of his own medicine.

“Go, go on, go tell Felicia that, that night in the hotel room, was LOVE!”

He smiled at her, shaking his head, then yanked her by the arm back down, burying her beneath him.

“That was SO wrong,” Luke said making her laugh.

Arms entwined as well as legs, he kissed her neck, as she reached her head back. The heat intensified between them, the desire even stronger than they both remembered. During hot, open kisses, he pulled her back, cupping her face, as she looked at him, bruised lips, bright eyes. His hands went from her face, threw her long hair. Her eyes were curious, and wanting.

“Are you sure,” he asked.

“Are you?”

His thumbs went up and down her cheeks. He covered her mouth, forcing the air out with his need.

“I’m sure if you are,” she told him.

Felicia Scorpio Jones Residence

Three Days Later

4:14 PM

Laura Webber Spencer knocked on Felicia’s door. No one answered, but she heard something that sounded like footsteps, sobs, and music in the background. Odd combination. The door was opened just a little from her knock, so she pushed it open. Felicia was blasting music. Laura could see Felicia was crying, holding some things she’d seen a while ago in Luke’s office. Obviously this song was their song.

“Kim Richie’s song, “Come Around”. Our one night together, that’s what was playing as you held me. It was our song because it expressed my feelings, Luke,” Felicia said.

Laura listened to the words. “I don’t miss the good old days. I’ve learned a lot since then, I’ve changed my ways. I’m not bothered, by those things that, used to get me down…only when you’d come around. I don’t carry much regret, we all hold something that we’d just as soon forget. I remember like it was today, the love we found, every time you’d come around. Every time you’d come around. Well I’m the first to say I should, forget you, and I wish I could…sometimes, wishes don’t come…true…Doesn’t seem like much to ask, to live a life that isn’t caught up with the past. But there’s really, no place else on earth, for me right now. I wish you’d come around.”

In that moment, Laura’s eyes filled with tears as Felicia’s hands held onto the few memories, and Felicia said the last lines with the song.

“I wish you’d come around. Why don’t you come around?”

As the song began to fade, Felicia said, “Why didn’t you come around, Luke?”

Laura turned to leave, this was obviously not a good time, if there ever would be. Felicia threw the possessions in the fire, and watched them burn. Laura opened the front door, and saw Frisco coming up the steps. She cursed silently as she hid in the closet. Frisco came through the door. He walked over to Felicia who was crying. He touched her shoulder. She gasped and turned around.

“Oh Frisco,” she cried flying into his arms.

“What’s wrong?”

“Are you leaving?”

“Not unless you kick me out the door.”

Felicia wiped her tears and looked at the love of her life.

“What’s the time frame?”

“I’m going to choose what’s real. It was a wakeup call to realize you might not always be out there.”

Before she spoke, he bent down, slipping an arm under her legs, lifting her into the air. He carried her up the stairs to the bedroom. Laura opened the door to the closet, and sneaked out. She walked home and opened the door. There was a fire and no other light. Then she saw Luke. He came to her, and she raised an eyebrow.

“Tonight,” he said.

“Tonight and the rest of my life.”

As his hand came towards her face, she bent it back, beginning to feel overcome with passion. Laura’s mouth dropped open and Luke clutched her lips to his. He embraced her tightly, and she felt her whole body become overheated. They were breathing heavily as he threw her up in his arms and lied her gently on the floor. He began to unbutton her blouse, opening it at the top, peeling it down her shoulders. She sat up as he undressed her, so carefully, which was different than usual. Laura cupped his face, bringing his to hers, feeling every emotion as he pushed her again to the floor, becoming a part of her.

Her hair was in a messy ponytail, and he momentarily moved to the couch with her, only to realize there wasn’t enough room. There was a blanket wrapped around them as she kissed him. He pulled her body close and felt the floor, pulling her with him. She landed slowly, her hair coming partly undone.