The Heart Remembers - Part 2

The Pent House at the Port Charles Hotel

''Listen guys I am going to go for a walk, maybe look around this town a bit,'' said Malcolm getting up from the family's game of monopoly after cleaning them all out and leaving everyone penniless. ''Honey I don't really want you walking around a strange town at night, what if you get lost.'' ''Mom I am not going to get lost and I promise I won't go very far, just around the area of the hotel. I am really too wound up to sleep, Chandler has retired for the evening and I am feeling a bit closed in.'' Seeing that his mother was still looking unsettled he leaned down and kissed her cheeks, causing her to give him a helpless smile. He knew his mother couldn't resist letting him have his way especially after a carefully placed kiss on the cheeks. ''Oh honey,'' said Michael ''he'll be ok, especially if you let the hotel give you a car and driver,'' said his father also concerned about his son walking around an unknown town all alone at night. He knew Lucky was 26 years old,( at least that's the age he was placed at,) but he still worried about him as much as when he was a boy, he worried about all his children when they weren't with him. ''OK,'' Theresa relented upon hearing about the car and driver, ''but don't stay out too late ok honey.'' ''I won't mom I promise just a quick look around to get some air and I will be right back.''

A few minutes later Lucky was headed away from the Hotel after securing a car and driver. He really could have gone on foot, but he promised his parents and he always kept his word. ''So are there any interesting places around where one can get a drink and listen to some music,'' inquired Lucky of the driver. ''Sure there are several interesting places, but one in particular that I love to take the little lady. It's this blues club not far from here. It's not much on the outside, but on the inside it really is neat and brings home the blues.'' ''Blues huh, that's my favorite music, I would love to kick back and listen to some blues. Ok it's settled take me to Luke's'' ''As you wish I promise you won't be sorry.''

Lucky sat back and enjoyed the ride letting his mind wonder as he looked out the window into the calm summer night. He had been so restless lately, but he couldn't put his finger on what was causing his restlessness. He enjoyed his work tremendously he had doubled the company's asset every year since he became CEO four years earlier after College and had made the Steele family even richer than they already were.

His grandfather who remained as president of Steele enterprise years ago decided that Malcolm was the future of Steele enterprises and have for the last four years watched proudly from the background. Malcolm was however not very happy and thoughts of his impending marriage to Chandler in less than three months did nothing to change his state of unhappiness. What he wanted was something special like his parents had or what Jonathan had with Patricia.

Malcolm had hope to find that kind of connection with someone, he craved it, but he's never felt anything more than physical for any woman before and had finally given in an settled for just beginning a family. He had began dating Chandler a year and a half ago and found her just as intolerable as most of the other women he had dated. However he knew that she was an ideal match if not in the heart at least in what society deemed appropriate. He had finally decided that he must lack whatever it took to fall madly in love.

''Here you are,'' said the driver snapping Malcolm back from his daydreaming. Lucky looked at the club and thought the driver was correct this place was not very appealing from the outside, but he did promise that inside was better so it was worth a shot. ''Here's the number to the cell phone, just call me when you are ready and I will return you to the hotel.'' ''Thank you, I will do that,'' said Malcolm walking towards the club.

Malcolm entered the club and stopped to look around at his surroundings, the driver was right this place was great and it sure was hopping. There were people everywhere sitting around or standing around talking to each other as though everyone knew each other. It looked almost like some kind of family reunion, but no family could be this large, thought Malcolm. He headed for the bar looking forward to bourbon on the rocks and sensing that he was going to enjoy more than one, especially with this great music playing in the background. He was just about at the bar when.

''O my god Lucky,'' shouted Emily as the glass of wine she had been holding went crashing to the floor. Everyone looked at Emily as though she had lost her mind, but saw the stricken look she had on her face as she stared at something. Everyone look to see what Emily was staring at and all froze with the same shocked expression on their faces, Malcolm watched as at least three people choked on whatever they were drinking, while another glass went crashing to the floor. ''Cowboy?'' Luke asked softly not really believing that he was seeing what he was seeing. Elizabeth stood with her mouth agape, words failing as she stared at the man in the middle of the room.

''Luke, Luke, Luke'' whimpered Laura shaking from head to toe, wringing her hand nervously, sure she was losing her mind again and this was all just an illusion. It couldn't be Lucky, Lucky was dead, killed in a fire, they had proof, dental record, the token, the body. Luke couldn't hear Laura because suddenly the whole world had gone silent and all he could think of was that he had finally drank too much and this must be what happens when you had too much liquor.

''Lucky,'' inquired Bobby taking a step towards the incredible handsome young man that looked just like her dead nephew. Malcolm took a step back shaken by the shocked looks on everyone faces, overcome with the need to turn and bolt. Who are all these people he thought and why are they all staring at me and calling me Lucky. As the woman before him took another step towards him he took another step backwards. ''Who are you,'' asked Malcolm as he took yet another step backwards glancing towards the door, wondering if he had somehow been transported to some unknown realm like in some weird Science fiction novel.

''Cowboy? Laura it's the cowboy,'' said Luke coming from behind the bar and headed towards Malcolm. All kinds of thoughts were floating through Malcolm's mind, but the most pressing was getting the heck away from these strange people who were looking at him like they were seeing a ghost.

Luke finally reached Malcolm and before Malcolm could protest he had enveloped him in a huge bear hug. Luke began sobbing on Malcolm's head muttering words of thanks and other indecipherable words to no one in particular. Through it all Malcolm stood limp in the strange man's embrace still unable to figure out completely what was going on, but realizing that these people thinks he someone else. The crowd that had been scattered throughout the club when Malcolm first arrived was now all gathered around him and a beautiful sobbing blond women was now also clinging to him for dear life. He had no idea what to do so he just stood there looking helpless desperate to get away.

Finally Luke pulled away and looked at Malcolm, ''Lucky it's you,'' said Luke looking into his son's beautiful blue eyes and wondering how it was possible that he could be looking into those eyes again after all these years of thinking he was dead.

Malcolm finally spoke taking a step back and disentangling himself from the woman that continued to sob and cling to him. ''I have never seen any of you before in my life I just came here to get a drink and listen to some blues music.'' Luke looked carefully at the young man in front of him and while he realized that the man indeed seemed not to recognize him he was completely certain that he was looking at Lucky. Luke held the man's face in his hand as tears rolled down his cheeks, ''you are Lucky, you are my son Lucky,'' said Luke simple.

Malcolm took a step backwards shocked at the man's words and as he looked around the faces around him all registered recognition. O my goodness thought Malcolm this must be where I'm from. This must be part of my forgotten past, but I don't recognize anyone or anything. As realization dawned on Malcolm the world began spinning off its axes just before the darkness enveloped him.

Luke caught his son as his unconscious form slumped to the ground. Laura shrieked and got down on her knees before her son gripping his hand and willing him to open his eyes. ''Barbara do something,'' bellowed Luke who felt the cold hands of terror clutching his heart trying to squeeze the remaining life out of him.

Barbara rushed over to her nephew followed by Monica and Alan Quartermaine who had been watching the exchange in total disbelief. Elizabeth was being held up by Jason and Sonny who carefully lead her to the nearest seat before getting her a glass of water. She took the water helplessly and took a couple of swallow before leaping into action and running over to Lucky.

''He's going to be Ok,'' declared Alan ''he's just fainted let's get him comfortable.'' Alan took off his jacket and placed it between Lucky's head and the cold concrete. ''Give him some air people,'' said Monica motioning for everyone to step back and allow Lucky some breathing room. Laura, Luke and Elizabeth remain where they were unwilling to step away from Lucky. Elizabeth stared at him in wonder, it's like a dream she thought, Lucky, the man she had longed for and dreamed about for ten years was laying just inches away from her, so close that she could actually reach out and touch him.

''How is this possible,'' said Nicholas coming up behind Elizabeth as she knelt next to Lucky. ''Lucky died in the fire, we have proof, we went to his funeral, we buried him, how can he be here more than ten years later.'' ''I don't know,'' said Luke, ''but I know its Lucky I would bet my life on it.''

While everyone continued to ponder what was going on Mac got on the phone to the station and instructed one of his officers to pull Lucky's file. ''That was ten years ago sir I would need to search the archives and that usually takes a couple of days.'' ''Listen to me detective you have 1 hour to locate and deliver Lucky Spencer's file to me at Luke's club or you are fired got it,'' yelled Mac hanging up the phone. He could almost feel the ulcer eating him inside out at the thought that 10 years ago he may have made the biggest mistake of his life. Taggart upon hearing Mac on the phone went over and inquired what Mac was thinking. ''I don't know yet Taggart, but I need to go over Lucky's file to see if there is something we may have missed 10 years ago. Taggart rubbed his head having thought the same thing when he realized that Lucky Spencer was actually here very much alive.

''Mac what's going on,'' asked Luke who had also overheard Mac's conversation on the phone. Luke was now sitting on the floor next to Lucky holding his hand. Laura was holding his other hand and Elizabeth was sitting with her legs folded beneath her just staring at Lucky almost willing him to wake up. Mac walked over and informed Luke that he was having Lucky's file pulled and sent over to the club so he could have another look at it to see if there was something they missed 10 years ago. ''That's a good idea, but it doesn't matter what the file says we all know that this is Lucky lying here.'' Mac nodded unable to deny the obvious. ''Luke I had a look alike too right Felicia,'' he said to Luke as Felicia joined them. ''Yep he sure did I couldn't even tell them apart at first.'' Elizabeth suddenly got a thought and grabbed Lucky's shirt and began unbuttoning it. ''What are you doing,'' asked Laura. ''Remember I accidentally stabbed Lucky once it left a scar that looked like an arrow,'' said Liz finding the spot she knew well. ''There it is,'' said Elizabeth ''its Lucky.'' Laura nodded starting a fresh round of tears as she saw confirmation, not that she needed any that the man laying at her feet was indeed her son.

The Pent House

Danielle was asleep and Jonathan and Patricia had finally retired leaving their parents who insisted on waiting up for Malcolm. ''Where could he be it's been over two hours now, didn't he say he would be right back,'' said Theresa Steele pacing the room anxiously. She has often been told that she was the most overprotective mother on the planet, but when it came to her three children she couldn't help herself they and her husband were her entire life. She hated not knowing where any of her children were and realized sometimes the children were a bit overwhelmed by her protectiveness, but they usually humored her.

The Steele family had already endured three attempted kidnappings of their children, first Danielle when she was only 8 years old, then again at 14 and later Jonathan and Malcolm when Jonathan was 21 and Malcolm 19. That last attempt left her and her husband completely paranoid and now fear grew inside her as she thought of Malcolm out there alone in this strange town. Her mind drifted to that day more than 6 years ago when while at school at Yale the boys chauffeur Reynolds was ambushed and replaced with another. The boys where to be picked up and taken to the jet for their return flight to LA for Christmas vacation, only they were almost driven away to an unknown destination. Thankfully Jonathan and Malcolm were able to outsmart the men waiting in the car barely escaping the attempt. For the next three years all three children had lived with bodyguards and hated every minute of being followed everywhere. Finally against the wishes of Alexander Steele, Michael's father and the children grandfather the guards were sent away. There were conditions the children had to promise to always be careful, never putting themselves in situation that would leave them vulnerable.

Michael Steele hating to see his wife worry so much called down to the front desk to find out about their son. He was put through to the driver who drove Malcolm and was a little concerned himself to learn that the driver had dropped Malcolm off nearly two hours before at a night club. He informed the driver to have the car waiting in front of the hotel in 5 minutes to take him and his wife to the club. Once he got off the phone he related what he had learned to his wife who became even more anxious, but quickly grabbed her purse and followed her husband to the waiting car outside the hotel.

Luke's Club

After nearly two hours and Lucky still hadn't come around everyone began getting worried. ''Monica shouldn't he have woken up by now, maybe we should take him to General Hospital.'' ''No his pulse is strong and everything his normal, sometimes the brain shut down when its on overload and all that's happened to him tonight probably qualifies, but he will be ok.'' ''Does he have amnesia? He didn't recognize me at all,'' said Luke alarmed that his own son didn't recognize him, but still shocked that said son was here at all.'' ''It would appears that way based on what I have witnessed that would be the only explanation for what we all just saw right Alan,'' said Monica. ''Yes that would be my diagnosis, but we will just have to wait and see.''

At that moment one of Mac's detectives arrived with the file Mac requested. Mac immediately grabbed the file and along with Taggart began going over everything. After a few minutes both declared that nothing seems suspicious. ''Mac let me have a look,'' said Luke from his position on the floor next to Lucky where he was still clutching his son's hands. Mac handed the file to Luke even though it was against regulation and watched as Luke thumb through the pages expectantly. After a few minutes still looking through the files Luke agreed that everything seemed in order. Monica who was crunched next to Luke was also glancing at the files and as Luke flipped again to the dental records Monica asked Luke to see the file. ''Hmmm,'' said Monica looking puzzled. ''What?'' asked Mac sensing that Monica found something that he may have missed. ''It's the dental records, Lucky had five fillings and two extractions?'' ''No way,'' said Liz responding immediately, ''Lucky had the most perfect teeth of anyone I had ever seen. He was always telling me I was going to lose all my teeth because I love sweets so much and boasted that he's never had a cavity.'' ''She's right,'' added Laura ''Lucky never had any cavities and certainly no extractions and he only lived away from us for a year.'' ''Well that's not what this dental record says, so if you two are correct these are not Lucky's dental record.''

Everyone was speechless. Mac snatched the files from Monica and scanned the dental records again and sure enough in the section marked cavity it said Lucky had five fillings and two extractions. ''How could this happen,'' asked Mac a horrible feeling growing inside him. ''Someone must have switched the records,'' said Taggart holding his head a look of total disgust in his eyes. ''I can't believe we missed that, how did we miss that? Why didn't we go over the dental records with a fine teeth comb and compare what was found to the families knowledge of him?''

Luke looked at Lucky his body shaking as he realized what must have happened. Laura put her free hand on Luke's shoulder to comfort him, but knew there was no comforting him right now. At that moment Lucky stirred and finally opened his eyes, quickly closing them again when he saw the swarm of faces looking down on him.

Malcolm tried to recall what was going on and why he was lying there with people staring down on him like he was a priceless exhibit. Slowly the recent events came back to him, being dropped off at the club, the music the people and finally the realization that these people all knew him as someone else, someone name Lucky, what a strange name thought Malcolm. Malcolm slowly sat up with the assistance of the blond woman and the man who claimed to be his father.

''I have no recollection of any of you,'' Malcolm stated simple, ''I have no recollection of this town, this room or anything.'' He was about to tell them that he had no memory before the age of sixteen when the door to the club burst open and his parents came flying in.

''O thank god, there you are Malcolm you scared your father and I to death,'' said a near hysterical Theresa Steele. ''Mom? Dad?'' exclaimed Malcolm remorseful at the look of distress on his parents faces, temporarily forgetting the current situation Malcolm allowed his mother to gather him in her arms. He could feel her trembling and new that he had succeeded in scaring her to death with his absence, but he didn't realize he was gone that long, but then he must have been out for awhile.

Michael Steele gave his son a hug as soon as Theresa released him. ''Well, there honey no arm done he's in one piece I told you he would be fine,'' said Michael unaware at the people staring at him in complete bewilderment. ''Don't even try and put this all on me Michael you were just as worried in fact you were a basket case on the drive to the club.'' Theresa gave Michael a little shove, relieved now that she saw that her son was safe, she too not realizing that something strange was going on.

''Well darling are you ready to go it's getting late you must be tired,'' said Theresa. ''I know I am we have a big day tomorrow if we ever manage to get out of this town.'' At the mention of the town Malcolm remembered the current situation and turned to see everyone looking at him and his parents in shock. Michael was the first to notice that all was not right. ''What's going on here Malcolm why are all these people staring at us like we have one too many eyes.'' Theresa finally caught on and glanced around the colorful club taking in all the people who were gathered around them.

Malcolm tried to think of a way to explain to his parents what just happened to him, ''mom, dad you better sit down.'' ''Why what's going on sweetheart?'' Malcolm looked at his mother and sigh, she's not going to like this he thought, she's going to flip. Malcolm turned to Luke and pointing at them said, ''this man says he's my father and all these people say I am someone name Lucky.'' ''What?'' Both his parents said at once looking suspiciously at the crowd gathered around them. Theresa looked desperately at Michael for him to do something do anything. When Michael continued to sit there in shock Theresa got up and grabbed Malcolm's hand, ''let's go darling we will sort this all out when we get to the hotel.'' Malcolm accustomed to obeying his mother turned to follow her out of the club, but Laura grabbed Lucky's other hand stopping him from leaving.

''Heck no you are not taking my son anywhere until we get to the bottom of this,'' said Laura glaring at the woman holding Lucky's other hand. Laura continued to glare at the anxious well-dressed, society type looking woman calling herself Lucky's mother. The two women glared at each other, neither backing down. Finally Michael Steele recovered, his shocked being replaced by irritation, he too wanted to take his son and return to the hotel. ''Listen your mother is right Malcolm we should just return to the hotel and sort this all out tomorrow.'' Again Lucky turned to go feeling completely uncomfortable with the growing tension between the parents he knew and the ones he didn't recall. Luke wanted to throw the man commanding his son threw the nearest wall, but he stayed in place his body refusing to respond, guilt, overwhelming guilt had settled over him the minute he realized that he had been duped 10 years ago.

Malcolm was halfway away from the people assembled in the center of the club when ''Lucky?'' He was stopped dead in his tracks by the sound of that voice he felt before he knew that everything as he knew it was about to change. Malcolm slowly turned around to face the voice and that's when he saw her standing there, tears rolling down her cheeks. She literally took his breath away all he could do was stare his lips slightly parted drinking in the most incredible beautiful woman he had ever seen. Malcolm felt his inside turn to liquid fire as he continued to stare at her, who was she he thought knowing immediately that whoever she was she owned him heart, mind, body and soul.

Elizabeth smiled shyly unable to tear her eyes away from Lucky it was like when she had seen him for the first time, except a million times more intense. She knew she was shaking, but she had to stop him from walking out of her life again. She couldn't let him leave, she simple couldn't and at that moment she knew she would say and do anything to keep him with her.

Malcolm returned her smile involuntarily. Her smile was the most incredible thing he had ever seen he couldn't tear his eyes away from her lips, those perfect lips that he was now aching to touch, to kiss to slide his tongue across. Just the thought of that sent his body into overdrive he had never felt so alive, so aroused. Malcolm blushed at the direction his mind had taken, mentally willing his body into submission, no one had ever affected him this way, no one had ever come close.

''Who are you?'' Malcolm asked softly, noting the look of disappointment that came into her eyes, being replaced immediately by understanding. ''My name is Elizabeth,'' she said simple, ''Elizabeth Webber.'' ''The artist,'' Malcolm asked recognizing the name immediately. Elizabeth was obviously surprised that he knew who she was, ''yes'' she stammered. She had sold several pieces of paintings over the last several years, but she was not exactly well known by any stretch. ''I am a painter'' Elizabeth acknowledged unable to stop looking into Lucky's beautiful blue eyes, eyes she thought she would never look into again.

''I have two of your paintings,'' said Malcolm excited that she was responsible for the paintings he was so drawn to, the ones he looked at when he was upset and lonely that always made him feel better. ''Which ones,'' asked Elizabeth excited that Lucky had her paintings. ''One is of the inside of a church with candles everywhere and a bunch of white roses laying on top of the alter held together by white lace. The other is of what seems to be a train car in the middle of a forest with a guitar inside the train car.'' Malcolm smiled as he thought about that painting.

Elizabeth laughed at his smile wishing desperately for him to remember, but somehow knowing that those memories where lost to him, probably forever. Memory or not she knew she love the man in front of her regardless. ''That's nice,'' said Malcolm mesmerized, ''what?'' asked Elizabeth, ''your laugh it's beautiful,'' said Malcolm his heart soaring. Elizabeth blushed, but couldn't stop staring at him, remember how much he used to love the sound of her laughter and grateful that he still did.

Everyone watched the exchange speechless as the confused young man who moments ago couldn't seem to get out of the club fast enough now stood staring at Elizabeth as though she was the only person on earth. Michael and Theresa was also speechless, neither had ever seen their son responded to anyone the way he did to the young lady before them. Michael couldn't help smiling his heart lightened sensing that Malcolm was losing his heart right before his eyes. Theresa had also relaxed and was looking with absolute amusement at her son. She had loss count of how many times she had wish to see that look in Malcolm's eyes.

''Helena,'' said Stephan in obvious disgust as he shouted the name to no one in particular. Stephan finally came forward and stood before Luke. ''It was Helena, she did this, she took Lucky it's the only thing that makes any sense. That letter she left you remember what it said?'' Luke thought for a second and then realization dawned on him, causing him to turn and reach for the nearest bottle sending it crashing across the room away from everyone.

The sound of the glass shattering caused Malcolm and Elizabeth to tear their eyes away from each other to see what was going on. ''Helena, that bitch,'' said Laura also realizing what must have happened and who was responsible for her losing her son 10 years ago. Malcolm was confused and looked at Elizabeth for clarification. ''Helena was this really evil woman who hated you parents and would have stopped at nothing to destroy them. They think she was responsible for all this.'' Elizabeth told Malcolm still unable to believe she was standing there talking to him after all these years. Malcolm nodded still unsure of what that all meant, but smiling as his eyes were again drawn to her lips. Elizabeth blushed and licked her lips when she realized what he was looking at. Malcolm smiled innocently when he realized that she was on to him and his obsession with her mouth.

Stephan walked up to Michael and Theresa Steele and introduced himself. ''I am Stephan Cassidine and I know this must all be very difficult for both of you, but we have to discuss what has happened to Lucky. Michael and Theresa looked at each other and then nodded helplessly realizing that there was no running away from this matter. Malcolm placed his palm on the small of Elizabeth's back and guided her over to Stephan and all four of his parents. At the feel of Malcolm's hand on her back Elizabeth had to struggle to keep from grinning from ear to ear in response to the familiar jester that Malcolm did so naturally. She glanced over at Emily who was smiling broadly having noticed the same thing.

''Nearly 9 ½ years ago I did a thorough search of this entire country for Malcolm's family. I had the investigators pure through missing children's files from every state including the state of NY, everywhere. I checked fingerprints, I sent out flyers all over the country and nothing no trace of any family for Malcolm. No one came forward to claim him, no one. Michael was growing angrier with every word he spoke, wondering how these people could have misplaced there own child for 10 years. Luke realizing what Michael was thinking felt another wave of guilt washed over him as his face crumpled and silent tears fell. He was unable to defend himself and looked down as Michael continued to explain all he had done to try and locate them.

Sonny who had been silent since Lucky's appearance saw Luke's devastation and stepped forward determine to protect his friend from himself, if anyone knew about self-inflected guilt it was Sonny.