Sly and Lucky had shared many happy times at the diner. He remembered sharing meals prepared by Ruby, and sometimes sleeping over. Sly always felt at home at Kelly's, until Ruby died. He started to avoid the place out of grief, then habit. Then Lucky died and everything changed.
Sly took a deep breath and tried to calm his stomach. He felt like he was going to be sick, but he knew he had to get over it. Emily was waiting.
Emily was sitting inside at one of the tables. She looked at her watch again. Sly was fifteen minutes late. She wondered if she was being stood up.
Elizabeth Webber walked up to Emily's table. "Em, are you sure this guy is coming?"
"Sly wouldn't not show up. I'm sure there is a good explanation."
Liz sighed. "I hope you're right. Maybe running away runs in the family." She wiped her hands on the bright blue apron she wore. Liz was intensely frustrated by her relationship with Lucky. His personality fluctuated wildly. One minute, he was the smiling, happy Lucky he always was, then he turned cold the next. She just wanted to show him how much she loved him, how much she still loved him. "You know, I've never met Sly, despite what you and Lucky have told me."
"He's really great, Liz. We used to be such good friends."
"Well, if he stands you up, he's no friend of mine."
Emily smiled. "Thanks for the concern. I'm going to use the bathroom. I'll be right back. If Sly gets here, tell him to wait."
"But I don't know what he looks like…" Liz trailed off. She
watched Emily retreat to the back of the restaurant while she wiped off a few
tables. Suddenly, the front door opened. If she didn't know better, she would
have sworn that a younger version of Luke had just walked in. The young man
didn't have his curly hair or blue eyes, but everything else about him strongly
resembled Luke. Lucky didn't even look this much like him. Then it occurred
to her. This must be Sly.
Sly looked around the familiar surroundings. Memories started to resurface,
but he willed them to stay away. What he didn't see was Emily.
"I know I'm late, but…" he mumbled to himself. He almost turned to leave when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Excuse me, are you Sly?"
Sly turned to see the smiling face of a petite brunette woman. He was taken off guard. "Um, yeah."
"Emily is in the bathroom. She told me to wait for you."
"Ok." He nervously shifted from foot to foot.
Liz studied Sly carefully. He seemed particularly on edge, sometimes the way Lucky would get when he was upset or worried. "I'm Elizabeth, by the way."
Sly's face lit up in recognition. "Lucky's Elizabeth?"
Liz flinched slightly. She was nobody's possession, especially not Lucky's.
Sly regretted the words the instant he said them. "I guess so by the look on your face. God, I'm sorry I brought it up." He turned his head.
Liz smiled slightly. "It's Ok." She was about to say more when she heard Emily squeal.
"Sly, you're here! I was beginning to think you stood me up."
Sly laughed. "I wouldn't leave you high and dry."
"I see that you've met Liz."
Just then, more customers walked in. "Yes, we've met. Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but I have to get back to work," Liz said. "Nice to meet you, Sly."
"You too, Liz."
"Let's sit down. We have so much to talk about."
Sly sat down at one of the tables with Emily. She was so happy and bubbly. It really looked good on her. He wished he could share her mood.
"So, where have you been all my life?" Emily said. "Or at least the last few years?"
"You know, around," Sly said flippantly.
"What kind of an answer is that?" Emily questioned.
"An honest one. Emily, if I thought I was going to get the third degree, I wouldn't have come here." Didn't she see how hard this was for him?
Emily could see through his false bravado. "Sly, what's really bothering you?"
"Nothing," he snorted.
"How am I going to talk to you if you don't tell me anything? I don't deserve this."
Sly sighed. She was right. He was letting his emotions about this place get in the way. "I'm sorry. Could we start over?"
Emily sighed. "Ok, what have you been doing these past few years?"
Sly had a shaky smile. "Well, I graduated from St. Joseph's, and now I
have a band."
"Gee, that was thorough."
"Sorry, I didn't realize you cared."
Emily sighed. Why was he making this so hard? "Of course I care!"
"How was I supposed to know that? I haven't heard from you in years."
"Oh, that's a two way street, buddy. You haven't exactly been calling either."
Sly got up. "I'm taking off. I can't stay here anymore."
"You're just going to leave?"
Liz and the few customers that remained stared at Emily and Sly.
"I don't have to stay here."
Emily squinted. "Fine, you're just like Lucky. You both just run away."
Sly looked at Emily with cold eyes. "Lucky's dead, Emily. He can't run anymore."
Liz and Emily stared at Sly. "You don't know?" Emily gasped.
"Know what?" Sly said.
Liz moved to Sly and took him by the arm. "Why don't we go outside?"
Sly pulled his arm away from Liz. "What are you not telling me?" he screamed.
Tammy came out from the kitchen. "What is going on here?" She then looked at the person who was yelling. She was shocked at how much the young man looked like Luke. Could he have another son? Whoever he was, she could tell he was angry and upset.
Emily approached Sly. "Look, just come outside. We'll explain everything."
Liz turned to Tammy. "May I just go outside for a minute?"
Tammy smiled supportively. "Sure, hun, take all the time you need."
Sly pushed open the door angrily and the two girls followed him out. When they were out of earshot of the customers in the restaurant, he turned to them.
"Will someone please tell me what you are being so cryptic about?"
Emily looked to Liz and then spoke. "You know we all thought that Lucky died in that fire last year."
"Of course he did. I couldn't go to the memorial service because I was in the hospital with pneumonia, remember? It killed me to not be there."
Liz spoke up. "Then the next news is going to be a big shock."
Sly's mind was racing. What were they getting at? "Just tell me!" he shouted.
Emily's voice was soft. "Lucky's alive, Sly." She held a small smile.
Sly blinked a few times. Did she just say what he thought she said? "What?" he whispered.
Liz smiled. "It's true. Lucky's alive. He's here in Port Charles."
Sly tried to let their words sink in. "Really? This isn't some kind of cruel trick?"
Emily took his hands in hers. "No. It's only the best kind of miracle."
"So they faked his death like Laura's?"
"No. We still don't know all of the details, but it looks like Cesar Faison kidnapped him."
Sly's eyes clouded over. "The bastard. He was a suspect in my mother's murder."
"Look, what matters now is that Lucky is back here, safe."
"Then why didn't I know?"
Liz sighed. "Lucky's been very mysterious. He won't talk to his parents and he's been acting very strange. I don't know what's wrong."
"He's been locked up for a year, that's what." Sly stopped to think. "Wait, I thought that Faison died last year. His boat blew up. Why didn't Lucky come back then?"
"Helena took him next. He says she rescued him, but I'm not so sure," Liz stated.
"How long has he been back in PC?" Sly asked.
"About a month, I guess." Liz looked upset. Emily put her arm around her.
"Have you seen him?"
"Yeah, we both have."
"Well, when can I see him?"
Emily and Liz looked at each other.
"Well, we could try to find him tonight," Emily said.
Sly smiled broadly. "It will never be soon enough." Sly felt as if someone just handed him his heart back, even though he never knew it was missing until that moment. Lucky was alive. It was about time a miracle happened in Port Charles.