CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

It’s early the next morning. Laura, Luke, and Earl stand behind the desk while Alexis stands before the judge.

Lucky and the others are seated behind the Spencers while the McCoy’s and their lawyers are seated on the far right.

"I’ve looked over the case and the history. I do not see where the Spencers are a flight risk so I’m setting bail at one thousand dollars each. The trail will be in one month. Dismissed!" The judge bangs his gravel down on the desk and leaves.

"Yes!" Luke cheers, hugging his wife.

"I’ll go pay bail," Nikolas smiles, happy that Luke and Laura and Earl will be there for the wedding after all.

"Thank you Nikolas. I’ll pay you back, I promise," Lucky turns to his brother.

"Hey Laura’s my mother too, and as for Luke and Earl, just consider that your early christmas present," Nikolas laughs, taking out his checkbook.

"Cowboy we’re coming home!" Luke stands, hugging his son. "Didn’t I tell ya everything will be alright?"

"The trial’s not over yet dad," Lucky points out.

"But this is a good sign," Luke squeezes his son’s shoulder.

No one notices the McCoy’s approach until they’re right upon them.

"Enjoy your freedom now Spencer," Calvin folds his arms. "Because it’s not going to last. You’re going to go away for a long time."

"We’ll see about that. And if I was you I’d stay away from my family. I heard about last night. You got lucky, excuse the pun."

"I knew you put the kid up to it," Paula snarls.

"He had nothing to do with it," Lucky speaks up.

"I heard about it from Taggert who had come upon Lucky holding the gun. I suggest you leave my family alone."

"Paula remind me to tell my lawyers about that incident. It’ll help our case," Calvin laughs, stirring his wife away from the spencers.

"The nerve of them!" Laura gasps.

"They’re sick people Laura. Pay them no mind," Earl replies.

"They have Helena on their side," Lucky silently replied. "Helena and her lawyers."

"Doesn’t mean they have the judge son," Luke squeezes Lucky’s shoulder. "Don’t worry Lucky. Everything’s going to be fine. Oh and Lucky. Stay away from my guns while these people are in town. I don’t want you flying into a blind rage and doing something you’ll regret later on."

"Ok dad," Lucky nods. "I’m sorry. I just got mad…I was in a different place last night."

"I know son. I know. I just don’t want you to do something you’ll regret. You’re not me. You wouldn’t last five seconds in jail."

"Okay, bails paid. You’re free to go," Nikolas returns.

"Thanks Nikky. I owe you one," Luke snorts.

"I didn’t do it for you Luke. I did it for Lucky. You being in jail for kidnapping was killing him," Nikolas said. "Plus I did it for Laura and Lulu as well."

"Well all the same, thanks," Luke shrugged.

"Now Liz, we have a wedding to plan don’t we? How about we go to the mall and look over some potential dresses?" Laura places a arm around her future daughter in law.

"I’d love to," Elizabeth smiled, allowing Laura to lead her out of the courtroom.

"Well…son, it looks as if your days being a free man are numbered. How does it feel?"

"Great," Lucky smiles. "Spending the rest of my life with Elizabeth…that’s all I can ever want. That, and getting the McCoy’s out of our lives for good."

"Hear hear!" Earl laughs. "Let me tell ya Lucky, I’m right proud that you asked me to set with your family. It means a lot to me."

"Speaking of which Cowboy, was I wrong or yesterday, before the boys in blue showed up, did you say you had asked Stefan Cassadine to set with us?" Luke places his hands on his hips. Lucky looks at Nikolas who can only shrug helplessly. They both knew that Luke wasn’t going to be happy.

"Before you blow up dad, let me explain my reasons. He’s Nikolas’s family and he’s my brother."
"HALF-brother," Luke cuts in.

"No dad, my brother. There’s no half about it. Secondly, he’s taking good care of Laura, who’s my sister. Plus, he’s been kind enough to let Elizabeth stay at Wyndemere also and he’s funding any coming court battles. He deserves to set with us."

"Lucky, fine. You appreciate what he’s done, for your sister. Buy him a plaque or a medal. Heck, buy him a trip to Tahiti! But don’t have him setting with the rest of us! It’s unnatural."

"Dad, the only thing unnatural is this stupid fued you two have going. Do you even know what it’s about any more? Because, I don’t see an incredible reason to hate the man myself."

Luke irritably sighs. "The man’s evil incarnate Lucky."

"No dad, the McCoys are evil incarnate. Helena is evil incarnate. But Stefan is nothing close to that!"

"The man has you blinded Lucky. You’re letting your feelings for your new little sister get in the way of logic. Fine. If you want Stefan Cassadine setting with your family on your wedding day, go right on ahead. But don’t expect me to be there."

"Luke…" Earl warns.

"You can’t possibly mean that," Lucky stares in shock at his father.

"You know I do Cowboy. As much as it’ll pain me to miss my boy’s wedding to the woman he loves, I refuse to set next to Cassadine!"

Hurt and anger flashes in Lucky’s eyes and he crosses his arms. "Fine dad. If that’s the way you want it fine. Don’t come to my wedding." Lucky turns to leave and stops when Luke speaks again.

"Don’t expect Laura to be there either Cowboy. You saw how fast she dumped Nikolas last time. She doesn’t want to set Cassadine either."

"You bastard," Nikolas hissed. "How dare you…"

"No Nikolas, it’s okay. I know mom will be there. You see, that was the last time she put her husband before her children. See you around dad," Lucky walks away, not even looking back.

"Luke…why did you do that?" Earl crosses his arms and looks sternly at his friend. "Shouldn’t your son’s wedding be more important than this feud you have going with Stefan Cassadine?"

"Earl…you don’t understand."

"I understand that fourteen years ago, I gave you a five you old boy to raise as your own because I believed you were a good man and would put him before anything else. Something the boy needed. But looking at you now…I’m beginning to wonder."

"I have put Lucky before anything else!"

"No you haven’t. You’re not putting him above this feud. He wants his father at the wedding Luke! He wants you there supporting him the way a father is supposed to support his son! But instead, because he asked someone you don’t like to set with the family, you get all bent out of shape and decide not to go…not only that but say that his mother won’t be there as well. To tell the truth, Laura’s not going to appreciate that."

"Earl…I don’t have to discuss this with you ok. I love Lucky more than anything. But I can’t even stand being in the same room with Stefan Cassadine. The kid’s asking too much!"

Earl just shakes his head. "Nothing should be too much Luke. Nothing." With that Earl exits the courtroom, leaving Luke to stew in his own juices.

Elizabeth comes home carrying a black plastic bag that conceals her wedding dress. She happily goes to the room she’s sharing with Lucky and hangs it on the inside door. She turns and frowns when she sees Lucky standing on the balcony, staring out at port charles, his shoulders slumped.

"Lucky? What are you doing out here by yourself? What’s wrong? Is it Laura?"

"It’s my dad," Lucky sighed, turning to his fiancee. "He refuses to come to the wedding if Stefan sets with the family. I don’t understand him. Why can’t he at least be civil, just once?"

"Oh Lucky, I’m sorry. This was supposed to be a happy day for you and it turns out like this," Elizabeth walks up to him and wraps her arms around his waist.

"God Elizabeth. Why does he want to put me through this? Must I choose between my father or what I feel is right? Maybe I was better off living with the McCoys. At least there was no Spencer/Cassadine feud to deal with."

"Lucky you don’t mean that. You grew up safe and loved with Luke and Laura. It would have been the other way around with the McCoys and you know it."

Lucky sighs. "You’re right. But still…dad is being so pigheaded."

"So are you."

"Well if dad doesn’t want to come. I’m not going to make him. It’s up to him really. It just took me off guard that he loved his feud more than he loves me."

"Oh Lucky," Elizabeth pulls him closer, wanting to make him forget the pain of the argument he had with Luke. "Luke will come around. I know he will."

Luke is behind his desk at the club, going over some books when he feels a shadow fall over his desk. He looks up to find Nikolas with his arms crossed.

"Well look who it is. The dark prince. What can I do for you?"
"Grow up and come to your son’s wedding," Nikolas glares at Luke. "I can’t believe you’re being so selfish."

"Here we go again," Luke sighed.

"How can you do this? How can you set there and claim to love Lucky but put your need to hate Stefan above all that? Why can’t you put your hatred aside for one measly night? For Lucky’s sake?"

"Look Nik, this is way over your head okay? Do you think if it was your wedding Stefan would want me setting with the rest of the vampires? I don’t think so."

‘But the difference between you and Stefan is Luke is that he loves me enough to put that aside. He doesn’t let his feud with you get in the way for his love with me, unlike you. You broke Lucky’s heart today when you said you wouldn’t be at his wedding! Do you know how much that hurt him?! Don’t you think Lucky’s been hurt too much this year and maybe a lot more before the year’s out? Does he really need you throwing tandrums because of this stupid feud? Lucky’s right. Neither of you know what the feud’s about anymore and it’s stupid!"

"What do you want from me here Nikolas? So far all you’ve done wsa tell me I’m a horrible father and that I’m stupid. Any other words of wisdom?"

"Yeah. For once, put Lucky ahead of your hatred for the Cassadines. Because if you don’t you’re no better than the McCoys," With that said Nikolas strolls out of the room before Luke could say anything else.

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