I thought it was over, baby
We said our goodbyes
But I can't go a day without your face
Goin' through my mind

In fact, not a single minute
Passes without you in it
Your voice, your touch,
Memories of your love
Are with me all of the time

Let me let go, baby
Let me let go
If this is for the best,
Why are you still in my heart
Are you still in my soul, let me let go

The lights of this strange city are shinin'
But they don't hold no fascination for me
I try to find the bright side, baby
But everywhere I look,
Everywhere I turn, you're all I see

Let me let go, baby won't you
Let me let go
It just isn't right,
I've been two thousand miles
Down a dead-end road

Oh let me let go, darlin', won't you
I just gotta know
If this is for the best,
Why are you still in my heart
Yeah, you're still in my soul, let me let go
Let me let go, let me let go

Port Charles, New York
The Spencer Residence

"Hey Princess," Lucky whispered, his voice catching in his throat the instant he caught site of his baby sister. He bent down, scooping the little girl up in one swift move. Though the little girl, was no longer such a little girl.

LuLu wrapped her arms around her brother's neck as he hugged her tight. Her feet, hovering inches above the floor. Lucky smoothed a hand over her dark hair, murmuring in her ear. "You've gotten so big, kiddo."

"I missed you," she sighed contentedly, tightening her small fingers around his neck.

Lucky finally opened his eyes, and slowly lowered his sister to the ground. She giggled as her brother groaned in mock agony at having lifted such a big girl.

For the first time since she'd opened the door, Lucky took a long look at her. He shook his head. In a few years they were going to have to padlock her room.

As it turns out, time actually flew when you WEREN'T having fun as well.

He felt his parents' presence in the room before he saw them. The intensity, causing him to look away from his sister's wide-eyed stare and towards them. His mother stood frozen, as if unable to believe her eyes. Still as beautiful as ever. While, his father gazed at him stoically, perched oddly still against the mantle.

LuLu followed her brother's gaze to her parents, sensing the tension in the room. She grabbed his hand an instant later, pulling him across the threshold. Into a house he hadn't stepped foot in over 3 years. "Come in...

"Mom, Dad...Lucky's here!" She squealed, as if they had yet to realize that the miracle before them was their son.

Laura clasped a trembling hand over her mouth, finally emerging from the stunned state that she'd been in for the last few moments. Of course, she'd known that he'd be arriving sooner or later. But seeing him at the door...It was almost too much to bear.

"I know that sweetie," she answered, never taking her eyes away from her youngest son. "I know that..."

She walked forward slowly. Her voice giving way to sobs as soon as she wrapped her arms around him for the first time.

"Oh God..." she wailed, tightening her embrace. He felt so good. Different - more mature. But good.

Unfortunately, it took only a second for the blissful euphoria to give way to reality. To realize that he wasn't hugging her back. Not in the true sense of the word.

Sure his arms, were around her. But that was it. They were just his arms. Just his physical being. Not love - not joy at seeing his mother again. A strange sensation brewed in the pit of Laura's stomach. It was a sensation she had felt once before, but had never wanted to feel again.

After a moment, she pulled back slightly to look at his face, glimpsing the truth that shown in his eyes. It wasn't an expression that she was seeing for the first time. It had merely decided to make a return engagement. She closed her eyes.

What were you supposed to say to your son, when you were so desperately happy to see him, but you suddenly knew that he didn't feel the same way? When the last time you'd reunited after a separation, it had gotten extremely ugly?

Could you tell him you missed him? That you loved him? That you were glad he was home? Ask him what happened to make him leave?

A simple spark of something familiar in her son's eyes had caused Laura's mind to go completely blank. She no longer knew how to react to a moment she had dreamt of every night since he'd so mysteriously 'disappeared.'

Her husband's voice broke through the dense atmosphere in the room, while only adding to its fierce weight. "Princess, do Daddy a big favor and take the mutt for a walk, would you?"

Lucky glanced from his father's ice blue glare, down to his old childhood companion. A dog, that was currently having a grand time licking Lucky's fingers.

"Hey boy," Lucky whispered under his breath, rubbing a hand against Foster's huge cranium. "How ya doin?"

LuLu's voice brought Lucky's attention back to the humans in the room. "Daaaaad," she whined. "Do I have to do it now? Lucky just got back."

Luke stared pointedly at his son from across the room. "Your brother's gonna be here when ya get back...Aren't ya Lucky?"

The young man locked eyes with his older name's sake for a long moment before gazing down at his sister. "Sure thing LuLu...I'll be here. Don't worry about it ok," he added, bending to place a kiss on top of the girl's head. "I'm not going anywhere."

LuLu rolled her eyes at having to leave, knowing it could only mean one thing: the adults had 'important things to discuss.' What she really wanted to know was why SHE wasn't allowed to hear it if it was so damn important!

'I get no respect,' she thought, before grabbing Foster by the collar and lugging him out on to the porch. "See ya later Lucky."

"See ya kiddo," He smiled.

Lucky turned around to face his parents as his sister's small footsteps descended the front stoop. His smile disappearing in an instant. Stepping, down from the single step into the living room, he made a sweeping gesture with his arms. "Wow. The place hasn't changed a bit."

Laura approached him again hesitantly. Not able to fathom how Luke could just stand there, leaning so calmly against the mantle. How he could not run up to him!? Hug him!? Something!

Her voice emerged softly. "Neither have you...Well, a little," Laura said, changing her mind. She smiled hopefully.

"I was so surprised when LuLu told me y - well, told me her penpal was coming to visit.... Lucky...how-how are you?" She asked, continuing at his silence.

"Great!" Lucky said, plastering a twisted grin on his face.

"Ah - the used car salesman from Trenton rears his ugly head again," Luke smirked, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, his gaze never leaving his son's.

"You wanna try sellin' us that line a bull one more time Cowboy?" Luke asked, finally walking towards him. "Maybe with some feeling this time?"

Lucky tilted his head to the side and Luke knew he'd hit a nerve. "Have a seat Lucky."

Lucky shrugged. "No, I think I'll stand. Thank you."

Luke watched his son as he traveled around the room, glancing at things. Picking them up, examining them and sitting them back down on their surfaces. "Suit yourself."

He was angry. He may not have said more than 6 syllables yet, but it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out when Lucky Spencer was pissed off about something. 'Like Father, like son,' Luke thought silently. Not voicing that particular thought aloud. Something told him it wouldn't be well received.

Luke's eyes met with Laura's, as she silently pleaded with him to say something. To get their son to open up.

'He's gotta do it himself, sweetheart,' Luke thought silently, hoping she could hear him from across the room.

Laura shook her head impatiently. Reading her husbands thoughts and deciding that she couldn't take it anymore. She threw caution to the wind.

"So, Lucky where have you been? I mean...My God, we haven't seen you in 3 years...and now, you just kinda walk in here and act like you've been on vacation for a few weeks or something."

His chuckle from across the room put a halt to her voice. "No Mom, I haven't been on vacation...I have, however seen a lot of the world," he said, placing a knick-knack back down on the end table. He turned towards his parents.

"Would you believe that I've seen more of the world - traveling with Helena Cassidine, than I ever did on our entire time on the run from Frank Smith."

A sound that seemed a cross between a laugh and a snort escaped his lips as his mother gaped at him. Luke ran a hand over his mouth, and looked towards the ceiling. His worst fears coming true in a heartbeat. Just like he knew they would someday.

"Yeah, that's amazing isn't it? I mean, honestly....I thought I'd seen it all," Lucky added, placing a hand to his chest. "But nope. There was plenty more to see."

"What did she do Lucky? What happened?" Luke questioned. His voice thick with anger as he moved forward.

Lucky licked his lips. "Well...I guess what happened really was...you."

Laura's eyes widened. Her eyebrow rising to new heights as the horror set in. Her thoughts jumped ahead of her son's voice. 'Dear God, no...'

"Well, that's not completely true. I mean I had a hand in what happened, but I've basically spent the last 3 years of my life paying for your and your" he added, glancing at his mother. "Sins.

"So no, Mom...I haven't been on some damned extended cruise or anything like that. Not that you should worry your pretty little he -

"Hey!" Luke snapped, stepping closer. "You show your mother some respect. I think we've all been thrown for a loop here, but there's no need to talk to her like that."

"Oh!" Lucky grinned, rocking back on his heels. "We're back to that again?...Ok, Fine.

"Mom, with all do respect - you've both ruined my life. Can I go now?" He finished, looking up at his father.

Luke shook his head and looked down. He moved slowly towards the armchair next to him and sank down with a sigh. "Yeah sure, Cowboy. You can go. You can leave - again.

"Just know that our lives haven't exactly been a picnic. Waiting to read your next 'penpal letter' to LuLu, or waiting to see if maybe - just maybe you were gonna show up for Christmas last year or this year. Or maybe you were gonna call just to let us know you were still breathin'.

"No, it hasn't been quite the same since that day Elizabeth called us, sounding like she'd been visited by the Death fairy."

Lucky winced visibly at the mention of her name. At the thought of what must have been a horrible phone call. A horrible night for her. Remembering what it had been like for him.

"So, Cowboy...if you wanna walk out that door. Be my guest. I just wanted you to know some things first, before the Blame Game starts up again."

"Luke!" Laura shouted, not believing her ears. She ran towards Lucky, as he started for the front door. "Lucky, please...just come sit down. We can talk about all of this. Tell us everything that happened - please!

"Just start from the beginning," she continued. Willing to listen to anything. She'd take any abuse Lucky wanted to shell out, if it meant she got to hear the whole story. From beginning to end.

"Lucky, you and Elizabeth were so happy. I know you were. Aside from your father and I, I'd never seen two people more in love than you two were."

Lucky tried not to grimace at the comparison. "Yeah, well you know what they say about love being blind."

"I don't understand." Laura said, not following his statement. "You couldn't have truly fallen out of love with her - just like that," she added snapping her fingers for added effect.

Lucky stared into his mother's eyes. His voice soft. "Of course not."

"Then what happened Lucky? What did Helena do?" She asked, the tone of her voice reflecting his.

Lucky descended the step again slowly, walking into the living room once again. He folded his arms, and looked towards the window. As if looking outside would give him some clarity. Make life seem simpler somehow. Not as convoluted. Not as deeply unfair.

'When has life ever been fair, Spencer?' he thought bitterly to himself.

"I was gonna marry her," he stated. His voice emerging softly. "I never wanted to know another day that didn't include her in it...and I wanted her to know that. I wanted her to feel that," he added, placing a hand to his own heart. "I didn't want her to ever doubt that I loved her. That I'd do anything for her."

"She was all I ever wanted, and all I ever needed. Ever."

Laura moved behind her son, placing a tentative hand on his shoulder. He looked up, suddenly. Gazing into her eyes. Something inside of her reveled in the fact that he hadn't flinched, or moved away from her touch. Whether he had temporarily laid his anger aside or he just needed comfort - she didn't know. At that moment she would have settled for either explanation.

"I remember you calling me when you decided to ask her," Laura smiled, looking at her son's profile, as he turned towards the window again. "You sounded so happy. You said you were going to surprise her...That there was this ring that she wanted - you said something about pink diamonds," she finished, laughing a bit.

Lucky looked into his mothers eyes once again. For some reason, it surprised him that she'd remembered that. Although he wasn't sure why. She always had remembered things like that.

He shook his head and moved away from her, making his way towards the sofa. "She never said she wanted it...She never -....She knew I didn't have the money for that," he broke off.

Luke leaned forward, listening as his son drifted off to a time long past. Waiting patiently for him to get to the part that he knew would tear his heart out. Make him wish Helena would rise from the dead, just long enough for him to be the one to end it all for her in some painful fashion. God, why hadn't he ended that witches' life long ago?

"I'd taken her out to celebrate her promotion at that hotel gallery she was working at," Lucky smiled. Recounting a memory that made his eyes sparkle with a light mist. "She was so excited, but she wouldn't let on just how much...On the way home, we walked past this jewelry shop."

Lucky looked towards his mom. "You know Elizabeth, she's not really big on jewelry...but I swear...Her eyes - they just lit up when she saw this ring. God, it wasn't even just her eyes...it was like her whole face. Like Christmas or something..."

***
Lucky wrapped his arms around her from behind, watching her reflection in the glass as the light from the jewelry store danced in her eyes.

"What?" Lucky asked, his lips near her ear. The warmth, causing her to shiver in the cold night air.

She looked like an angel. Whether it was the moonlight reflecting softly against her white turtleneck, the diamonds sparkling in her eyes from their place behind the window, or the giddiness she felt over her new job...something was making her glow. She was absolutely luminous. His breath caught in his throat at the mere sight of her.

"Look at that," she sighed, pointing to the small silver ring in the window. Two pink, heart shaped stones glittered in the middle of the band.

"That one?" Lucky asked, tightening one arm around her, while he removed the other to point at the same one she did. Their fingers joined together in front of the glass. "The silver one?"

Elizabeth laughed out loud, and turned slightly in his arms to look at him. "That's platinum, silly."

Lucky rose an eyebrow, and tried to sound offended. "Oh excuse me. What's the difference, Oh Great Jewelry Appraiser?"

She smiled widely. "Only about 2 months salary."

"Aaah," Lucky nodded in understanding. A cloud passing overhead and joining another that had taken up residence earlier, when she'd questioned him about money for dinner.

She seemed transfixed by it. Mesmerized. He watched silently as she stepped closer to the glass, tilting her head this way and that to get a better look.

'Looking for the price tag Elizabeth?' Lucky thought. 'It probably just says: Ring that Lucky Spencer can NOT afford in bold lettering or something.'

Lucky closed his eyes, inhaling the flowery scent of her hair. Gardenias.

When he opened them, their eyes met in the glass. He wondered briefly if she could hear his thoughts. Hear him vow that he'd make her his wife within the next year. That he'd find a way to buy her the ring that suddenly had her so smitten. Even if he didn't know what that 'way' was yet.

He licked his lips. Thankfully there were times that she wasn't able to read his mind. Like now.

"Hmm...You ready to go home?" Elizabeth asked suddenly, sensing his distance. She smoothed a hand over his cold cheek.

Her touch shook him from his thoughts. "Um...Yeah, yeah. Sure. Let's go," he added, grabbing her hand.

The walk home, had been a quiet one. Each of them deep in thought. One pondering all the ways he could make the kind of salary that paid for such a ring. The other pondering all the ways she could stop him from constantly pondering such things.
***
His father's voice woke him from the trance he'd fallen into. "Anybody home Cowboy?" Luke asked quietly. Lucky had been silent for the last few moments. He finally looked up towards his father.

"Lucky what does this ring have to do with Helena Cassidine?"

He shook his head, and grinned sardonically. "It doesn't...I mean, not really...I suppose it was just a - a catalyst. It got the ball rolling."

"For what?" Laura asked, hesitantly. Quite sure she wouldn't like the answer. But certain that she needed to hear it, and that Lucky needed to say it.

"Ask and ye shall receive," Lucky sighed cryptically, looking down. "I mentioned to a couple of guys at work, that I needed some extra cash. About a week went by...and suddenly there was a Poker game going on - every Thursday night," He glanced at his father.

"As Dad would say, there are no such things as coincidences...I should have known that."

"Helena?" Luke surmised, leaning forward. His hands clasped together and pressed to his lips. "She must have been sniffin' around you for a long time in order to set something like that up..."

"Yeah, Dad I know! I should have been watchin' my back right?!...You think I don't know that?! You think I haven't told myself that every, single day since -

"Lucky!" Laura exclaimed, resting a hand against his. "Your father isn't blaming you."

He glanced angrily at his father once again. "You sure about that Mom? I mean...I'm sure Dad would have seen something like this coming from a mile away."

"Cowboy, why don't you finish the rest of your story. And then I'll let you know whether you're an idiot or not...how 'bout that?"

Lucky smirked and shook his head, continuing. "I figured I could play one or two games, you know? I'd get the money I needed, and then I'd get out...I wasn't even in it to make the full amount. Just a little. Just enough to help out. I wanted it to be surprise...and I didn't want Elizabeth worrying about the bills. She had enough on her mind with school and work...and her family breathing down her neck.

"Of course I won the first couple of times...But you know me, I couldn't accept that as just beginner's luck. Pretty soon, it just became this thing you know...like a hobby. One of those hobbies that likes to play you - more than you like to play it."

Laura shook her head, and glared menacingly at her husband. Knowing where this was going, before Lucky even got there. Remembering what had happened so many years ago.

"I started losing...I kept losing. Suddenly - I'd lost more money than I'd won. My luck had completely run out, and I knew that. It was also painfully obvious at that point that the games were rigged. But of course there was no backing out until I'd recouped what I'd lost."

He threw a quick glance at Luke. "You gotta be in it to win it, right Dad?"

Luke remained silent, as his son's anger resurfaced.

"Anyway," Lucky continued, looking straight ahead. "There was no 'recouping' to be had, and I was out of cash...So, I borrowed the money."

"A lone shark," Luke whispered. The words coming out more a statement than a question. "Why the Hell didn't you come to me, Lucky?"

Lucky shook his head and leaned back against the couch, getting the exact reaction he'd expected. His father never failed to deliver on cue. "I thought I could handle it Dad...obviously I am an idiot, right?"
~~~~~~~
Manhattan, New York
Hart & Hart Art Gallery

"Welcome back Mrs. Ha - Liz!" Suzanne, smiled as her boss walked in through the solid glass doors. Letting them swing closed behind her.

"Hi, Suzanne. How are you?" Elizabeth asked, striding past the secretaries' desk and straight towards her own office. Suzanne was an extremely nice woman, but she wasn't in the mood for pleasantries right now. Not after the limousine ride from Hell.

"How was your trip Liz?" Suzanne, inquired. Quickening her pace as she followed. "It was France, right?!...Ugh, so romantic! I don't know how you stand it!"

"I barely can!" Liz shouted, turning around. She looked down and cleared her throat. Covering her obvious slip of the tongue with a giant smile. "Um...I just - I just mean that Alex is so...he's so romantic and sweet, and wonderful. And...you know, all that wonderfulness is just so...um - wonderful, that you can barely stand it."

Elizabeth watched as understanding dawned on Suzanne. The woman nodded as if the load of crap she'd just spewed was the gospel. She halfway expected for her to shout an Amen. Thankfully, she didn't. In the mood Elizabeth was in today, she might have just had to smack her one if she had.

She quickly changed the subject, as she unlocked her office door. "Any messages for me?" She asked, placing her purse in her chair and perusing the billions of little yellow sticky notes that adorned the furnishings. One white sheet stood out in the midst of them all.

Beware of little white, unexpected notes. A tiny voice whispered, causing her to grin in remembrance of the night before.

'Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaft point.....stop that!' She shouted inwardly. She didn't need to think about that now. THAT was precisely the reason she and Alex had such a falling out this morning. Although, calling what had happened a 'falling out' was stretching stretching things just a bit.

After reading that note the night before, there had been no Earthly way for her to sleep with her husband. All the self pep talks in the world hadn't helped, and she had finally decided to play the Jet Lag card to get out of her 'wifely duties'.

She'd never forget how cold Alex had been to her this morning. His voice stilted and frozen. Like ice. The sound of it, accompanied by the memory of his glare, caused her to shiver even now.

"Well, what do you expect Webber?"

"Huh?" Suzanne, asked leaning against the door frame.

Liz shook her head, forgetting that she had company. "Ugh...nothing. I'm sorry...Jet Lag, you know," she added, picking up the note that sat tucked under her phone. She realized for the first time that it wasn't a note, but a receipt.

She glanced up towards Suzanne. The woman grinning in the corner like the proverbial cat that ate a cage load of canaries. "Miller's Pond?" Liz asked slowly. Already knowing the answer.

Suzanne nodded proudly. "My first sell."

"Congratulations," Liz answered. Her voice soft, a weak smile spreading thinly across her lips.

Obvious disappointment, shown in Suzanne's eyes. "Didn't you want it....sold?" She asked, hesitantly.

"Oh! Yeah! I'm sorry," Liz rambled. "I'm really just totally out of it today, you'll have to forgive me.

"So tell me about it...Who bought it? What did they think?...I don't see a credit card number on here...So, I assume they paid with -

"Cash." Suzanne interrupted, looking unflinchingly at Liz.

"You're kidding me."

"Nope," Suzanne smiled. "Cold hard cash. Slapped down on the desk, right in front of my eyes. I think I almost passed out. Never seen that much green before in my life."

"Who?" Elizabeth asked. Ignoring the memory of that soft, sexy voice from the other side of the phone in France. It couldn't have been him.

'If he can show up in France, he can show up anywhere,' her brain reminded gently.

Suzanne looked up towards the ceiling. "Um...Sp - Spencer? Yeah. That's it. A Lucky Spencer," she continued, as Elizabeth's jaw dropped open. Her thoughts, giving way to reality.

"Yeah, kind of a silly name...but Oh - My - God. You know me, Mrs. Hart - I don't like to throw this word around loosely...but: HOTTIE."

A strangled mix between surprise and acknowledgement escaped Elizabeth's throat.

"I mean I know you're married and all Mrs. Hart...but Sweet Lord - those eyes. I have never seen eyes like that. And his lips....Ok, I'm not even gonna go there," she exclaimed, fanning herself dramatically. "Is it hot in here?"

"Yeah," Liz swallowed. "A little." She sighed, sinking down into the leather chair behind her desk.

"Anyway. I'm kicking myself now for not noticing whether or not he was wearing a ring. But, if by some miracle, that man ever shows up in this gallery again...there is no way he's leaving here without me slippin' him the digits."

Liz looked up at this. The idea of someone slippin' Lucky anything causing her stomach to churn just a bit. Some weird emotion she hadn't felt in years came jogging up behind her to tap her shoulder, like some impish little elf.

She shooed the little bastard away and muttered under her breath. "He won't come back if he knows what's good for him."

"Excuse me?" Suzanne asked, from across the room.

'Damn it, you did it again!' Liz silently cursed, once again thinking out loud in front of someone.

"I'm sorry, I just said that you'd probably be good for him," she lied, nearly choking on the words.

"Oh," Suzanne stated bewilderedly.

Elizabeth smiled. "So, what did he say about the painting? Anything worth mentioning?"

'Why the Hell did you just ask that?' She chastised silently. 'You already know how he feels about that painting.' Yet her heart still lodged itself in her throat at the sound of the words that came next.

"Oh, I'd say it was worth mentioning alright," Suzanne smiled. "He said it was a masterpiece...Actually, let me make sure I quote him right. He said it was a masterpiece AND the best work he'd ever seen. That the artist had put her heart and soul into it, and that beautiful work could only represent an equally beautiful soul.

"For some reason he was adamant that the artist had to be a woman too. Don't know why, but that's what he thought. He seemed to know his art pretty well, so I'd probably take his word for it," she laughed.

"Mrs. Hart? You ok?" she asked suddenly, at her bosses' silence.

"Oh, uh-huh," Liz nodded slowly. Her throat tightening against her wishes. She wasn't going to cry. She refused to cry.

"Oh! I almost forgot," Suzanne added. "He said he knew the place! That Miller's Pond is some popular ice skating rink near Greenwich Village."

"Really?" Elizabeth asked quietly. Her voice almost giving out on her.

"Yeah," Suzanne said, clicking her fingernails against each other. "So, I figure - maybe that's where our mystery artist is from?"

Elizabeth looked up and smiled, tears in her eyes. "Maybe."

"Mrs. Ha - Liz...are you sure you're all right?" Suzanne asked, concerned.

Liz nodded, and brushed at her eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thank you."

She watched as Suzanne made her way out of the office, and then sunk back into her chair. Her head, sinking into the plush cushion. Two tears slipping from under her closed lids. The artist may not have been from Greenwich Village originally, but she most certainly had been born there. In every way that counted.
~~~~~~~~~

Port Charles, New York
The Spencer Residence

"Thank you for coming over so quickly Nikolas," Laura sighed, wringing her hands together as her eldest son crossed into the living room.

Nikolas noticed his mother's expression of worry right away. "What's wrong?"

"Well, I guess you could say - nothing," she smiled oddly, turning towards him. "In fact, in a perfect world everything would be wonderful right now. Beyond wonderful."

"But I'm to believe that it's NOT a perfect world and thing's AREN'T wonderful, correct?" He asked, completely bewildered by Laura's state.

Laura smiled, knowing she was confusing the Hell out of him. But she was confused herself. "Ok. I guess there's no easy way to say this, so...I'm just gonna say it."

"Mom! Spit it out already! I'm dying here."

She laughed then. Unexpected, but delightful as tears sprang to her eyes. Even in the absence of his younger brother, Nikolas had picked up so many Luckyisms before his 'disappearance,' that they still made her giggle in amusement. In some weird sense of maternal satisfaction.

"You're brother is home."

Nikolas turned his head to the side, as if looking at her with just one eye would bring her into focus. "My who is what?"

Laura laughed again, and clapped her hands together. "Lucky...is in Port Charles."
~~~~~~~
Port Charles, New York
The Docks

"As I live and breathe."

It was more the voice, than the actual words that caused Lucky to turn around. His face lighting up as his oldest friend came into view.

"Hey Em," he sighed a bit sheepishly. Almost afraid of what she'd do to him when she saw him.

Her mouth hung open as she slowly pushed herself down the stairs one by one. Each of her words, punctuated by a loud step against the wood. "Don't hey Em, me...Get the Hell over here."

She opened her arms, wide as Lucky walked towards her. Laughing out loud, she wrapped him in a fierce embrace. She shook her head against his shoulder.

"So, are you home for good?" She asked, daring him to give her an answer she didn't like.

Lucky smoothed a hand over her back. "Yeah, Em...I'm home for good."

"Good," she said smiling as she pulled away from him. "Then, I'll have time to win your forgiveness."

"My forgiveness? For what?" Lucky asked, confused.

"For this!" She sighed, before socking him square in the gut.
~~~~~~~
Manhattan, New York
The office of Alexander Hart

"Did you find out anything else?" Alex asked excitedly, throwing open the door for Leopold.

"What else would you have had me find out Allesandro?" The old man sighed, sinking down into the soft cushioned chair in the corner. He was tired. Physically. Emotionally.

Alex covered his face and sighed. "I'm sorry...I'm just sort of anxious here....Did you see Spencer?"

"Luke. But not the boy."

"Really?" Alex asked, unnerved. He walked over to his window, looking out upon the renovations going on outside. They were adding on to the tennis courts and the pool area.

Leopold followed his gaze. "Just in time for the Gallery's Anniversary Gala?"

Alex turned around and smiled a bit. "Yeah...it's going to be the biggest party Manhattan has ever seen...Let alone Evergreen."

"And Elizabetta...how does she feel about it?"

"Fine," Alex said quickly, turning towards him. "She loves it. She's GOING to love it."

Leopold simply nodded, and placed his hands in his lap. Knowing the girl didn't care one way or another about such things. His thoughts dwindled as Alex spoke up from his place by the window once again.

"I would have expected him to show up by now....Why do you think he hasn't?"

Leopold shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe he believes the girl is happy. Maybe he doesn't want to disrupt her life."

"I don't know," Alex said, shaking his head. "It makes me uneasy...How much did we pay that damn loan shark?" He asked, turning around.

Leopold squinted, Alex's question dropping out of the clear blue sky. He tried recalling the figure and sighed as it finally came to him. "I would say somewhere in the neighborhood of a million dollars, Allesandro...I would think that'd be enough, no?"

Alex shook his head once again and paced towards his desk. "I don't know...I don't trust it. I never trusted him to keep quiet. I think maybe we should find him...Give him a little incentive to keep silent. Keep out of sight."

Lyrics from Let Me Let Go, by Faith Hill.