FIRST STOP: LUKE'S CLUB
Luke and Felicia are entwined in a major lip lock oblivious to the rest of the world. ''What the, dad what's going on here?'' ''O my god Lucky, no it can't be you,'' ''yes it's me dad so stop gawking at me like I'm a ghost and tell me why you have your lips all over Felicia's.'' ''Lucky, how, I don't understand,'' stammered Felicia, also gawking at Luke's supposed dead son.''
Lucky regarded them both with disgust. ''Well I see why you couldn't figure out the Faisan and Helena was holding me captive you were too busy jamming you tongue down Felicia's throat, by the way didn't I attend your wedding not so long ago or did I imagine that.'' ''Whoa cowboy Helena and Faisan held you captive, how, where?'' ''Figure it out for yourself dad that's if you can manage to rip your lips away from Felicia's airwave.''
With that Lucky went storming out of Luke's with a desperate Luke hot on his heels, but after a few minutes Luke loss track of him and stopped to catch his breath. ''Where did he go,'' asked Felicia finally catching up to Luke. She too had taken off after Lucky as soon as he made tracks out of Luke's club. ''I don't know I lost him, oh my god he's alive, my son is alive and I had no idea,'' cried Luke his head in his arms sobbing uncontrollable. ''Luke it's not your fault obviously the fire must have been a set-up staged by Helena and Faisan, you heard Lucky they were the ones holding him hostage.''
''I can't believe this,'' said Luke when his sobs had subsided, ''how could I have been so blind, now that I think about it I realize that Faisan gave me a million hints all of which I ignored. I remember him saying that with one phone call he could break me. Him saying that he had something that was precious to me. Him saying Lucky a million times. Oh god how could I have been so blind, so completely stupid.''
''Luke stop this, stop this now, it's not your fault you couldn't have known, how could you, no one could and I am sure once Lucky calm down he too will realize that you couldn't have known.'' ''You are wasting your time Felicia, this is my demon to live with now, mine, I have to go.'' ''Where, Luke let me go with you I can't leave you like this.''
''Go home Felicia, go home to Mac and your children I have to find Laura and prepare her for this and then I have to find my son and take care of him the way I should have done before. That's if he will let me, but he probably won't and I can't say I blame him, I let him down again, I keep doing that.'' With that Luke walked away from a speechless Felicia. ''Don't go Luke, I need you,'' whispered Felicia to Luke's departing back, but she knew in that instance that Luke was gone from her life and whatever they had was over, just like that.
Lucky didn't stop running until he got to the docks and there he came across Laura wrapped in Stephan's arms kissing him passionately. ''What is this some kind of alternate universe.'' Laura froze in place a moment before spinning around to face the son she thought was dead. ''Lucky, oh my god, Lucky what, how, Lucky,'' whispered Laura her mind reeling.
''So mom I guess you finally made up your mind huh and have chosen Stephan I guess I shouldn't be surprise I mean you were headed in that direction before I supposedly died. Let me ask you this how long after my death did you moved full steam ahead with your romance.''
Tears were streaming down Laura's face as she regarded her son. ''I don't understand Lucky, how can you be here,'' said Laura reaching for Lucky. ''Oh please don't touch me I wouldn't want to interrupt your passion.'' ''Lucky please,'' said Laura crying uncontrollable now shaking from head to toe. ''Please tell me what happened Lucky, where have you been.''
Lucky took a shaky breath still not able to understand how everything could seem so unreal as though a million years had gone by instead of only nine months. ''Your boyfriends mother and a man named Cesar Faisan decided to get together and faked my death and hold me hostage for the last nine months.
See Cesar' motive was to use me as bait for dad and the queen of darkness was a little ticked at you for, umm I just now figure it out. I just figured out what the queen of darkness motive was and what she used to go on and on about. She was pissed at you for making count dracula here happy.
I guess they both figure that by taking me and letting you and dad think I was dead that would somehow break to the too of you. Guess they were wrong about that weren't they, you look fine to me, tell me mom did you take a break from your passion with Stephan long enough to even notice that I was gone.''
Laura stood with her mouth open unable to believe what she had just heard, ''Helena had you all this time she took you just to punish me, o my god Lucky.'' Laura reached for Lucky again but again he stepped out of her reach. ''I guess the joke was on them right mom, because it's obvious my death didn't phase you in the least, just business as usual for you and dad, boy what devoted parents I have. Am I lucky or what, no pun intended, really.''
With that Lucky stalked off leaving behind a shaken Laura being held up by a shocked Stephan who was wondering how Lucky's return would affect his relationship with Laura. ''Laura come with me to Windermere you are not well and at windermere we will discuss the matter calmly.'' ''I can't I have to go,'' said Laura with renewed vigor.
''Go home Stephan I can't see you again.'' ''Laura you don't mean this you are in shock over what just happened we just need to sit down calmly and discuss what happened to Lucky and my mother's role in it.'' ''Stephan didn't you get it, my son was taken from me because of my actions, regardless how inadvertently and he was taken by your mother,'' said Laura looking at Stephan bitterly. ''I can never forget that, I will never forget that as long as I live.''
Laura turned and hurried from the docks leaving behind a shaken Stephan who was wondering how his life that had been so perfectly ordered one minute was now a complete and total disaster. ''I have lost her, I have finally lost her. Stephan turned as he heard the undeniable sound of his mother's laughter rising across the calm water of the Port Charles River. ''She's won,'' whispered Stephan and with that he hung his head and stepped out unto the launch for the lonely trip back to Spoon Island.
Audrey Hardy stood shaking at the sight of the young man standing on her doorstep. She had opened the door thinking it must be the mail man since she was not expecting any visitors today. The smile that had been ready for whoever was at the door froze in place as she recognized Lucky standing there healthy and unharmed.
''Lucky,'' Audrey finally breathe, ''Lucky is that you, no, no it can't be you are dead I must be imagining you there. Ever since Elizabeth left I have been wishing with all my heart that you were still here and this is just my imagination playing tricks on me.''
With that Audrey went to close the door, but it was held in place by a smiling Lucky. ''Ms. Hardy it's ok you are not imagining things it's me Lucky, I'm not an illusion, I promise,'' said Lucky comfortingly. Audrey opened the door and watched as Lucky slowly walked in she was afraid to go near still not convinced that it wasn't her imagination playing tricks on her.
Lucky sensing that Audrey was still not convinced that he was real decided to try and put her mind at ease. ''Audrey, you are not losing your mind the fire was a set-up and my death was faked by a man named Cesar Faisan and Helena Cassidine. They both wanted to use me against my parents so they kidnapped me and I have been held captive since the night of the fire. Once both Faisan and Helena were, how shall I say, no longer footing the bill for my stay in captivity the guards decided to let me go and here I am.''
''Oh Lucky, O my poor, poor dear you must have been so terrified,'' said Audrey recovering her equilibrium. She gathered Lucky to her and hugged him tightly whispering words of comfort and thanks that he was back.
For the first time since his returned Lucky finally relaxed in Audrey's arm feeling like maybe things might not be as bad as they seemed, at least Audrey seemed the same and looking around the Hardy's living room everything looked familiar.
''What was that you said a minute ago about Elizabeth no longer living here Ms. Hardy, where is she living now. Did she go to New York to the art Academy, will you give me her address, if I remember correctly I can just make the last bus to New York,'' said Lucky glancing at the clock on the wall.
When Audrey didn't say anything Lucky new immediately that something was wrong. ''Ok Ms. Hardy it's better if you just tell me,'' said Lucky tensing up trying to prepare himself for whatever else has happened while he was gone.
''O Lucky I really don't know how to tell you this,'' said Audrey wringing her hands nervously. ''Elizabeth really love you of that I am certain it's just that she took your death really hard and has tried everything she could to get past it. She even went to grieve counseling in the beginning, but nothing really helped until Jason.''
''Jason, what does Jason have to do with Elizabeth not living here Audrey? Exactly what are you not telling me, what's going on, just say it?'' ''Elizabeth moved in with Jason a couple of weeks ago, it seemed they got close sometime ago and I guess now she's with him,'' said Audrey still unable to deal with what was going on between Jason and her granddaughter.
''Are you saying that they are together, like together, as in together as a couple together, like we were together except more so.'' When Audrey averted her eyes Lucky got his answer. ''Well I prayed she would be able to move on, to go on with her life without me, I just figured that it would be the art school, not with Jason Morgan,'' whispered Lucky tears in his eyes.
''Lucky, I know Elizabeth loves you, I just think being without you hurt so bad that she just hasn't been able to think straight. I know that once she finds out that you are alive everything will be different Lucky, so why don't you go over to Jason's penthouse and see her and the two of you can work it out,'' said Audrey empathizing with Lucky.''
''I have to go now Ms. Hardy,'' said Lucky rushing out the door as the tears he was trying to prevent came streaming down his cheeks. I was wrong thought Lucky everything as changed even here after all.
Lucky wondered around aimlessly letting the light snow that had begun falling rain down on him, chill to bone yet numb as he thought about how much he had lost and where he would go now. He wondered around until he got to the Quartermines and found himself outside Emily's bedroom window. He peered in and saw her writing in what looked like a journal.
Emily heard the light knock on her window and wondered how Juan got there so fast, she had just talked to him 15 minutes ago and he had not told her he was coming by. She almost fainted when she saw who was crunched outside her window looking frozen and miserable.
''Lucky,'' Emily whispered not able to believe her eyes, she shook herself, opened and closed her eyes and looked out again and sure enough there sat Lucky staring at her from the other side of her window. Emily quickly opened the window to give Lucky assess and as soon as he entered she threw herself in his arms and squeezed as tight as she could.
''Lucky is it really you, are you really here alive and standing before me or am I just dreaming.'' ''It's me Emily, so no you are not dreaming it's Lucky alive and in the flesh.'' ''How, I mean we all thought you were killed in that fire and they had all this proof that it was you, how was that possible and where have you been.''
Lucky quickly told Emily the story of Helena and Faisan's duplicity and his captivity. ''You were being held captive all this time, but why would they do that it was obviously not for money, since Helena Cassidine was so rich.'' ''No they did it to get to my parents, I am tired Em, man I am so tired I feel like I haven't slept for a thousand years.''
Emily went to Lucky then and wrapped her arms around him to comfort him. She held Lucky as the tears that had subsided earlier started up again and began pouring down his cheeks. ''What can I do Lucky,'' cried Emily feeling his sorrow, ''what can I do to help you, please let me help you.''
''Tell me that this is just a dream and Elizabeth is not living with your brother,'' said Lucky pulling away to look at Emily. After a minute of silence Emily confirmed to Lucky what Audrey had told him.
''I am sorry Lucky, I mean I only just recently found out myself and I got into a huge fight with Elizabeth over it. Oh Lucky I wish I could tell you that things are the same as when you left, but they are just different, so much as happened since the fire and Elizabeth as changed so much I hardly recognize her anymore. Maybe with you back things will be go back to the way they were.''
''How? Emily how are things ever going to be the way they were, I've lost Elizabeth, my mother is with Stephan Cassidine, tell me Emily are they a public couple now.'' Emily bowed her head giving Lucky his answer, he sighed and shook his head, ''how could everything have changed so much so fast, it's only been nine months, granted it felt like nine years, but in reality it hasn't been that long Emily.
Tell me Emily how long as my father and Felicia been an item and what happened with Mac.'' At Emily's shocked expression Lucky realized that he had just let the cat out of the bag on that front. ''I take it that's news to you,'' said Lucky groaning sincerely sorry to have housed his father and Felicia.
''I won't say anything, but I have to tell you I think as far as everyone knows Felicia and Mac are still the happy couple.'' ''So now he's a cheat, don't you just love romance Emily, what would we all do without it. His son dies, so he shags the commissioner's wife, smooth dad,'' said Lucky bitterly temporarily forgetting about Jason and Elizabeth.
''What about you what have you been up to in my absence, oh let me guess you've become an alcoholic,'' joked Lucky. Emily smiled and gave Lucky a playful punch in the arm, to which he pretended wounded him and knocked her over with the nearest pillow thus beginning a pillow fight.
Later as the two old friends tried to catch their breath Emily beamed down at Lucky who had momentarily forgotten his problems. ''Doesn't this remind you of when we were kids playing with Foster and Annabel,'' asked Emily nostalgically. ''Yea it really does, thanks Em, thanks for helping me get my mind off things even for a little while,'' said Lucky sleepily.
''You're tired are you going to go home,'' asked Emily wondering what his plans were and determined to do whatever he needed. ''Go home, where is that now Em, I no longer have a home. My physical home was burned to the ground and my emotional home, Elizabeth is living in a penthouse across town with your brother.
What do you think Em, do you think I could just show up there and bunk with the two of them, do you think she will be happy to know I am still alive or will it just mess up her plans?'' ''Lucky I may not approve of everything Elizabeth has done since you've been gone, but I do believe that she still loves you and that she would be happy to see you.'' ''I wish I had your confidence Emily, I wish I knew that I wouldn't just be a complication.''
''Lucky, why don't you just stay here I know the people in this house are insane, but I promise everyone will be happy to have you and grandmother just adores you. She was so upset when she thought you were dead Lucky, she didn't come out of her room for days.''
Lucky thought about this for a while, but was hesitant, ''Emily if I stay here I will only get into fights with your grandfather, I mean you put Edward and a Spencer in the same room and that can only spells disaster. Hey, Nicholas I could go to Nicholas he'll put me up, he's my brother and besides he owes me one.''
At Emily's hesitant look Lucky got that sick feeling in his stomach again, that feeling that was becoming very familiar since his return. ''What? Just say it Em, just spit it out, what has Nicholas done that's going to make me hurt?'' said Lucky reluctantly.
''He hasn't really done anything,'' said Emily hesitantly wondering if she should tell Lucky, but her intuition telling her that she should. ''It's just that lately Nicholas has been pursuing Elizabeth and while I am certain that will cease now that you are back there might be some tension between you too,'' said Emily trying to avoid Lucky's blue gaze.
''What? What do you mean pursuing her,'' asked Lucky ''do you mean like he wants her for himself pursuing, like to get with her pursuing.'' Lucky was becoming irate and Emily was starting to get worried she knew Lucky could do serious damage when he got that look in his eyes.
''Lucky calm down ok, Nicholas has been through a lot lately and I think he's just confused and maybe Liz is something familiar and maybe it's even his way of holding on to you through her. Regardless she's made it very clear that she wants nothing to do with him.''
''It's one thing with Jason, she's moved on with her life she's entitled to that, in fact I wanted her to and yea it hurt, I am not going to sit here and pretend it doesn't but I understand that, in my own way I understand that and I won't interfere with that. Nicholas is a different matter all together he's my brother what's he doing pursuing her? What would possess him to do that.''
''Like I said Lucky Nicholas has been through a lot lately and he's just very displaced right now, but I am hoping that with you back maybe you can help him, after the dust settles that is,'' added Emily quickly. Emily watched as Lucky ran his fingers through his hair, a nervous gesture and one his resorted to when he was nervous, angry or thinking not so pleasant thoughts.
''Well you are right Nicholas cottage is out, but I am still not sure about staying here though Em.'' ''Fine, do you have a better idea then, because I am not letting you just go out there into the cold, especially as tired as you look.'' ''Ok you win, but only if your family says it's ok,'' said Lucky looking determinedly at Emily.
''That's fair you just remain here and I will be right back and Lucky don't try to sneak off ok. I don't care how cold it is out there I am going to come looking for you and you know you are going to feel terrible if I get sick,'' said Emily giving Lucky a stern look.
Lucky groaned and nodded his agreement as Emily headed down to talk to her family. Less than five minutes later what seemed like the entire Quartermaine family was in Emily's room gawking at Lucky asking question and being generally Quartermaine-like.
''I knew that family couldn't be trusted, now do you believe me that we need to keep Emily as far away from that little Cassidine prince as we can,'' yelled Edward to Alan and Monica. ''Father I thought your plan was to keep her away from Juan,'' answered Alan. ''Edward this has nothing to do with Nicholas, he can't be held responsible for Helena,'' said Monica trying to be supportive of Emily's friends.
After what seems to be hours of Quartermaines arguing Lucky was settled in one of the suits closest to Emily's. Lila supplied Lucky with sleep clothes before ordering Reginald to go shopping for a complete wardrobe for Lucky since he had nothing but the clothes on his back.
''So who's Juan?'' Asked Lucky mischievously after he had changed and was settled in bed with Emily sitting on the side of the bed regarding him lovingly.
''Juan is my boyfriend,'' said Emily blushing as Lucky continued to regarded her with an amuse look in his eyes. ''Boyfriend, umm my best friend finally got herself a boyfriend, can't wait to meet him, tell me he's nothing like Matt,'' said Lucky jokingly. ''No he's not anything like Matt, I mean he's got a few rough edges, but I think you will like him, actually I think you will like each other.''
''Then I can't wait to meet him, I am really happy for you Em,'' said Lucky sincerely. ''I am really happy you are alive Lucky, I missed you so much and I thought about you and how much fun we had as kids everyday,'' said Emily tears in her eyes.
Lucky raised from his position on the bed to give Emily a powerful hug, ''thanks Em and thanks for letting me stay here and for making me feel like my whole world hasn't moved on without me. I won't ever forget it.'' As Emily stood to leave Lucky stopped her, ''another thing Em, I know you've already done so much, but if you can do me one other favor I would really appreciate it.'' ''Anything Lucky, whatever it is just ask and it's done.''
''I don't want to see them for a while ok, I can't see any of them right now. I just wonder if I can just hibernate for awhile I swear I could sleep for 10 years, so could you just keep my family away from me just until I feel I can deal with them.'' ''You mean Luke and Laura,'' asked Emily cautiously.
''Actually I mean anybody, my mom, dad, Nicholas, even Elizabeth I just need time to deal with everything and put my life into perspective. I understand that everyone has moved on and I have to respect that and try to do the same.''
''If that's what you want I will make sure my family and the servants know not to let anyone in here and I promise to do my best to give you the time and the space you need to pull it together.'' ''Thanks Emily I owe you one,'' ''No, no you don't I just got my best friend back and my job is to take care of him the way I know he would take care of me if I needed it, the way he's taken care of me in the past.''
As soon as Emily left Lucky drifted off to sleep thinking about Elizabeth like he had every night since he loved her. He wondered how he was going to live in this world without her love, and if he was ever going to go to sleep for the rest of his life without thinking of her. He already knew the answer.
Emily was half way to her room when Carly caught up with her, ''O my goodness Emily AJ just told me is it true, is my cousin really alive and in the room down the hall.'' ''Yes and you can't disturb him ok, I guess AJ told you what happened, how he was being held captive, so you know that he's been through hell.''
''Yea, AJ told me that Helena Cassidine and some other guy kidnapped him and held him prisoner, man I can't believe that, how is he doing Emily is he ok and does Luke and Laura know.'' ''He's tired Carly he didn't get a lot of rest where he was for obvious reason, but he's going to be fine once he gets some rest. As for Luke and Laura they know he's alive, but he doesn't want to see them right now, actually he doesn't want to see anybody.''
''What about Liz, does she knows he's alive,'' asked Carly the wheels in her mind spinning. ''Look Liz doesn't know, but I am sure she will by tomorrow, as I am sure everyone will. However Lucky doesn't want to see her either, at least for the time being. Lucky needs time to think, so don't let anyone near him, in fact I don't even want anyone in this house disturbing him,'' said Emily looking at Carly suspiciously.
''Hey you don't have to worry about me ok, I am just glad I have a second chance with my little cousin, but I don't understand why he wouldn't want to see Liz.'' ''Carly, please don't try to play dumb you know why, obviously he's trying to deal with the fact that Liz is with Jason now and that's going to take some time. It's probably best if he doesn't have to deal with her until he's had time to process all the changes.''
''I understand, I just thought Lucky would have gone over there and break the door in and punch Jason's lights out, after all he is Luke Spencer's kid.'' ''Lucky is not like that ok, sure he's a little hot tempered sometimes, but in this situation he knows that would be uncalled for. After all it's Liz's life if she wants to be with Jason there is no way Lucky would interfere with that, something called integrity, but you probably never heard of that before.''
Carly glared at Emily's departing back, but turned away as a smile began creeping onto her face. Oh this is going to be good thought Carly, now why does this all feel like déjà vu to me. Elizabeth Webber, oh what fun I'm going to have with you darling. I'd better set the alarm tonight, wouldn't want to be late for that early shift at Kelly's now would I, after all I have good tidings to spread.