Chapters 21 & 22   CHAPTER 21: BODIES IN MOTION   Dylan walks into the Quartermaine living room and spies Justus talking animatedly on the phone, "Yes, I'll tell him," he says while laughing. He notices Dylan and waves to him, then returns to his phone conversation with a serious tone, "Well, I have to tell you, I'm not happy about all of this, but we can discuss that later." He frowns as he hears the other person talk, "All right, I'll take care of the situation, thank you." He hangs up and turns to Dylan, "Well, how are things on your end, Dylan?" Dylan shrugs, "Okay, I guess. How's Bradley?" "He's going to have another surgery, but Dr. Von Vetten is encouraging all of us to think positive." Curiously, Dylan asks, "I thought Dr. Jones was Bradley's doctor." "He was, Tony asked Dr. Von Vetten to take over the case. He's supposed to be the best neurologist around." Dylan nods, "Good." He looks around, "Jason said something about wanting me to meet him here." Justus raises an eyebrow, "Didn't anyone tell you?" Dylan laughs slightly, "No, I seem to be on the bottom the information chain." Justus continues, smiling, "Robin's in labor." "Ah," Dylan smiles. The phone rings again, Dylan picks it up, "Hello." He is met by Alex Garcia's anxious voice asking for Justus, "Yeah, hang on a sec." Dylan hands the phone to Justus, "It's Alex." "Hey Alex, what's..." Before he has a chance to finish asking his question, Alex hurriedly tells him his news. Justus frowns, "I'm on my way." Justus hangs the phone up quickly and turns to Dylan, "Keesha was just taken to the hospital. She's in labor too, except she's two months early." Justus rushes out. Dylan takes a deep breath, digesting the information before sitting on the sofa. "It seems," he says to himself, "that everytime I come in here, something happens." It's family luncheon time at the Cassadines. Mrs. Lansbury brings out a tray of dessert cookies and places them on one end of the table. Stefan sits next to Laura with Lu and Lesley across from them. Stefan watches as Lu pushes the food around her plate. Lesley notices too, "Lu, honey, what's wrong?" "Nothin' Grandma," she says absently, then stands up. Formally, she says, "Excuse me, Mom, Grandma..." She looks at Stefan but says nothing. Laura can sense the tension between them. "What about your father?" Lu stands, looks blankly at her mother, shrugs and leaves the room quickly. Laura stands up to follow her, but Stefan catches her arm gently, "Let her go, Lasha." Lesley quietly leaves the room, going after Lu. "Then you know what's wrong?" Laura says "She is upset with me," he replies sadly. "Why?" Stefan looks away from his wife, not wanting to worry her about Lu's 'flirtation'. He notices Lesley has gone, "Where did your mother go?" Laura glances across the table, and nods knowingly. "She's probably checking on Lu. Now tell me, what is wrong with my daughter?" "I'm sure she will discuss it with you if it becomes necessary." He stands and starts to leave. Laura grabs him by the arm, frustrated by his formality. "Lesley Lu is my daughter, and if there is something going on, I have EVERY right to know about it." Stefan wraps his arms around his wife, "Lasha, Lesley Lu feels that I'm overprotecting her." "Why?" she asks suspiciously. "I'm just afraid that something will happen to her like happened to our son." Laura stiffens at the mention of their son. "That won't happen. Nothing like that can happen anymore." Stefan pulls her closer to him, stroking her hair comfortingly, "Of course it can't, Lasha. We've taken all the necessary precautions with all the family. Lesley Lu just feels smothered. I'm sure she'll be all right." Laura nods, "You're right, of course. Do whatever you think is best." Stefan nods silently and leaves the room, heading towards his study. Laura sits back at the table and sighs, wishing she knew what was really going on. At that moment, Lucky comes in. He's sober now, but still hasn't shaven. Laura looks up at him and gasps slightly, "Lucky, what's wrong?" she asks, standing up. He shrugs, "Nothin' Mom." Laura rolls her eyes, "What is it with you and your sister? Huh? Did I do something so that neither of you will confide in me anymore?" Lucky raises an eyebrow, "Mom, what are you talking about?" "You and Lu, the answer to everything is 'Nothin'. You both used to talk to me and tell me when something was wrong." Lucky sighs, "Emily and I broke up." Looking down, Laura says softly, "I read in the paper this morning about her engagement to Tommy." "Yeah, well, she only told me about it last night." Not wanting to say anything further about it, Lucky changes topics, "Where is Lu, anyway? I promised her I'd take her driving." Laura points to the ceiling, "She just rushed upstairs. Mother went to check on her." Lucky nods, then flops in the chair next to Laura, "Then I'll just wait for her to come down." Laura looks at her son with some concern, but doesn't say anything. Upstairs, Lesley knocks softly on Lu's bedroom door. After a couple of seconds of no reply, Lesley opens the door slowly. "Lu, honey, can I come in?" "Sure Grandma," Lu replies quietly. Lesley enters the room and watches as Lu stares into her closet. "What do you think I should wear tonight?" Lu asks absently. Shrugging, Lesley asks, "Lu, is everything okay?" Lu glances back at her grandmother then resumes her wardrobe search. "Yeah, sure, why?" she asks quickly. "I've just never seen you act this way before." "Uh huh, yeah, sure." Lesley sits on the edge of Lu's bed. "You know if you ever need to talk..." Lu turns back to Lesley, "Grandma, you've seen more of me growing up than Nik and Lucky, right?" "Well, yes, but I did spend a lot of that time in Switzerland." Lu nods, "I remember, recovering. But does that mean you love either of us more than the other?" Lesley shakes her head, "No, of course not. I love you all the same, you Nikolas, Lucky and Staci." Lu nods again, "So why does Daddy trust me so much less than Nik and Lucky?" "I don't think I follow your logic, honey." Lu flops on the bed. "He babies me. He's been the only father that I've really known, but I'm not his kid. I could understand if he treated Nik that way. But why can't he treat me more like Lucky?" Lesley takes a deep breath, trying to sort out what Lu is thinking. "Nik and Lucky are both quite a bit older than you. Stefan worries about you." "Because I'm a girl?" Lesley shakes her head, "Because you are younger. And he knows that your mother couldn't handle it if anything happened to you. He couldn't bear that either. He does love you, Lu." Standing up, Lu starts to pace, "I know that. But nothing's going to happen to me. I'm not a baby. I can take care of myself. And if he doesn't like it, just ask Nik. He didn't teach me and Georgie all that Tai-Chi for nothing." Lesley smiles, "I'm sure you're both very good. Lu, what has Stefan done to make you so upset?" Softly, Lu replies, "He read my e-mail and didn't like who I was talking to. So he bought Microsoft." Lesley's jaw drops, "Isn't that overkill?" Lu laughs, "That's what I said." Her tone becomes serious again, "He forbid me from getting involved like that again." "He thinks it's too dangerous." "For a girl my age, yes. Any advice?" Lesley shakes her head, "You are asking the wrong person. When your mother was just about your age, she was involved with a guy. Her step-father and I thought it was too soon, but she was so determined." "What happened?" "She was in a car accident and nearly died. Rick saved her life, and within a few months, she and Scott were married." Lu's eyes widen, "At 16?" Lesley nods. Lu grabs an outfit out of the closet, kisses Lesley on the cheek and rushes out, "Thanks Grandma." "WAIT!" she cries out, but it's too late, Lu is gone. Lesley looks around the now empty room, "Oh dear."   CHAPTER 22: MEMORIES   Stefan sits at his laptop and types another entry into the electronic journal: "What would you be doing today, my Son? At ten years old, I imagine you and Anastacia both running around, hiding in the secret passages, trying to escape your tutors. Would you try and lock Staci in a suit of armor, much like your sister and her best friend did at that age? I am sure you and Staci would be more like brother and sister than uncle and niece. Nikolas would want it that way; so would your mother and I. Still in our hearts, we hold a glimmer of hope that someday you'll be returned to us, but with each passing year, that seems less and less likely. If you ever do return, Lasha and I will greet you with open arms and love you, because you were born out of the love that she and I have for one another. I love you, my son." Wiping away a single tear, Stefan saves the entry and closes the laptop. Lu is driving the Pink Caddy down the road. Lucky leans back in the passenger seat, quietly observing everything. "So what was G doing tonight that she couldn't come?" he asks. "Don't know. I think she was going out with a bunch of friends from school." Lucky sits up and looks at his little sister. He couldn't help noticing that she looked older all of the sudden at the mention of friends. "Lulu, what happened?" "Nothing." She glances over at her brother, "I just miss Daddy." "I know you better than that, kiddo. Stefan did something, didn't he?" "You haven't heard the news, have you?" Lucky shakes his head, so Lu continues, "He bought Microsoft." Lucky raises an eyebrow. "Ah. Then this has to do with the guy you're meeting later, doesn't it?" "Yep. Our dad would've let me see him, wouldn't he?" Lucky grins. "Probably, but he'd be pretty protective of you too. You were his little Princess." "But he wouldn't forbid me from seeing Dylan?" Lucky shakes his head, "Nah, I doubt it." Lu sighs loudly. "There are times when I really hate living with the Cassadines." "Whoa, that's a strong statement there Lulu. There's one thing I can honestly say about Stefan, he absolutely adores you. And you milk it for all it's worth, you love being Stefan's little girl." She glances over at him, "I didn't say I didn't love him, he's just smothering me." Lucky sits back in the seat and pulls out a cigar. Lu glances over at him, but after a moment it becomes obvious that he's not going to say anyhing. She refocuses her attention on the road, as does Lucky. Laura sits quietly in the game room. The room is silent, leaving her to her thoughts. She thinks about Lucky and Emily, Nikolas and Gina, two sets of love gone wrong. And now, Lu was having problems of her own that she refuses to talk about. She sighs audibly and runs her hand through her hair, wondering silently why her children won't talk to her anymore. Mrs. Lansbury comes in to announce the bubbly Lucy who's following close behind. "Ms. Lucy Collins, to see you, Mrs. Cassadine." Laura nods, "Thank you, Mrs. Lansbury." As Mrs. Lansbury leaves, Laura stands and greets Lucy with a smile, "Well Lucy, this is a pleasant surprise." Lucy smiles, "I'm glad you think so. You know, it's getting to be that time of year again, and I know how you LOVE to help out the hospital. I mean, of course you do, Stefan saved it all those years ago, and now, the two of you, side by side, hand in hand, toe to toe..." Laura cuts her off, "Lucy." Once she's sure she has Lucy's attention, she continues, "What can I do for you?" Lucy grins again. "It's Nurse's Ball time!" Laura nods, "I'm aware of that. Stefan plans on footing the bill again this year, don't worry." "Oh good, cause you know, I hope you and the family have thought about what they're going to do, because a Nurse's Ball just isn't a Nurse's Ball without some sort of Cassadine family do. Now, this is what I was thinking..." She pulls out a folder and pen to start going over ideas with Laura. Laura shakes her head, "Lucy, we won't be doing anything." "What?! Of course, you'll be doing something. I thought Lucky could do his little hip hop thingy that everyone loves. And you and Stefan would be soooo cute doing something from My Fair Lady or something. You know, with a frilly pink parasol and poofy dress..." Laura laughs slightly at the thought of Stefan as Professor Higgins, but realizes the likelihood of getting Stefan on stage was nil to nonexistent. "Lucy, you can talk to Lucky about his part, but Stefan and I won't be singing anything. I'm sorry. We will attend, of course." Lucy frowns at her, "Oh poo, you're just being a partypooper, I know you'll both come around sooner or later, so I'll keep a spot open for you." She closes her folder and leaves, "Ta!" she says as she goes. Laura smiles amusedly, "Yeah, Ta to you too, Lucy." She sits back on the sofa, feeling thoroughly dizzy from the encounter. How that woman could keep up that sort of energy for as long as she had was a complete mystery. A twenty-something young woman walks across the cemetery. She has brown hair with heavy blonde highlighting and isn't thin, but isn't fat either. She pulls a cigar out of the pocket of her black jean jacket. She lights it as she kneels and looks at the name on the tombstone : LUCAS LORENZO SPENCER, SR. She pats the top of the tombstone affectionately, "Well, Daddy, I finally came to Port Charles." Then, more harshly, she adds, "Too bad you missed it." She grins, "Now we're gonna have some fun."