36
In order to
celebrate the verdict, The Spencer’s and Cassadines gather in the ballroom of
Wyndemere. Mrs. Lansbury has a table of
appetizers and drinks set out on the banquet table. Luke and Stefan are both at that very table, looking uneasily at
one another. Luke cleared his throat.
“Well Vlad. It looks like our families have called a
truce, but I just want to say don’t count on it. The only reason I’m here is because it’s what my son over there
wants. He wants some peace for that
little girl’s sake and that’s what he’s going to get.”
“I never assumed
any different,” Stefan snorted. “The
feud between us is too old for us to quit now.
Not to mention the object of that feud is still very with you instead of
me. For now,” Stefan’s eyes fall on
Laura who’s hugging Lucky tightly, happy that things ended well. “Enjoy her while you can Spencer.”
“Why you…” Luke
makes a move to deck Stefan when Elizabeth steps up behind Luke. She saw the coming fight and decided to stop
things before they got out of control.
“This is a great
party Mr. Cassadine,” Elizabeth stepped between the two men, causing Luke to
lower and unclench his fist. “Lucky
really appreciates you two dropping the feud.
You know, he’s been through so much already…I’m just so amazed on what a
good person he is despite of it all.”
“Must be
Laura. She has a heart of a lion,”
Stefan smiled at Luke before walking away.
“Can I make an
announcement?” Lucky stood in middle of the room, a glass of sparkling cidar in
his hand. Everyone turned to face him
and listened intentionally. “This is
been a hard year hasn’t it? With the
McCoy’s breathing down everyone’s neck it seems the good times have been
overshadowed by the bad. I just want to
think everyone for sticking with me for the past year. Especially mom and dad. You guys could have just walked away but you
didn’t. You saved my life more than once
and I just wanted to say that I love you and appreciate all you’ve done for me,
and no matter what anyone says, you’ll always be my parents. By blood or otherwise.”
Applause thundered
through the room. Luke placed an arm
around Laura who dabbed away at her tears.
“Even though our
troubles are far from over, I’d like to think of this one victory as a sign.
That soon we’ll all be safe, happy, and most importantly together. Nikolas, my brother. I hope that your life with Beth is a happy
and peaceful one. Stefan, I hope you’re
a success in the business world.
Earl, I wish you all the best
life has to offer. Mom and Dad. I hope you two remain together and as much
in love as you are now. Show Lulu the
love and support you’ve shown me throughout the years. And to my beautiful wife Elizabeth, who’s
carrying my child…I guarantee you a lifetime of love and companionship. I love
you sweetie,” Lucky lifted a glass in a toast.
“Hear Hear!” Luke
called out, lifting his own glass in a toast.
Smiling Lucky
lowered the glass and signaled for everyone to go back to what they were doing.
“Lucky seems
happy,” Beth smiled as she stood next to Elizabeth, who seemed to be off in her
own little world, her hand laying on her swollen abdomen.
“He is. For once in his life, I think he’s at
peace. Everyone he loves are together
and safe. For now that is,” Elizabeth’s
smiled faded at the last few words. “I
wonder how long this is going to last.”
“Maybe it’ll be for
good,” Beth shrugged.
Elizabeth just looked
at her and shook her head, a small smile on her face. “Beth, here in Port Charles, peace and happiness is never for
good. It’s here for a little while, and
then, a bombshell explodes in our face soon afterwards. Believe me.
This thing with the McCoy’s is far from over.”
“What do you think
the next bombshell will be?”
Elizabeth
shrugged. “I don’t know. All I know is that I’m terrified. Not only for Lucky and myself, but our child
as well. Beth…they threatened to take
our baby away when it was born. They
say they’re going to prove we’re unfit parents!”
Beth wrapped a
comforting arm around her friend’s shoulder.
“Elizabeth, there’s no need to worry.
That will never happen. I
promise you. Even if I have to get
Nikolas to pull some strings, the McCoy’s won’t come near your child.”
“I hope you’re
right,” Elizabeth looked at her friend.
“So…speaking of
wacked out families…tell me about the Cassadines. What am I marrying into?” Beth giggled.
Elizabeth
laughed. “Trust me, you do not want to
know.”
“Come on Liz! Tell me!
Please,” Beth begged. “Come
on. How bad are they?”
“Bad. Believe me.
The things Lucky’s told me….the Cassadines are a pretty bizarre
family. Nikolas, Stefan, and Alexis are
the only normal Cassadines I know of so far.
Nikolas’s grandfather, Mikkos…he built a weather machine with world
domination as his goal. If it wasn’t
for Luke, Port Charles would be a iceburg and Nikolas’s grandmother
Helena…well…let’s just say you better stay out of her way. If you don’t…”
“Hey! What are you telling my fiancée,” Nikolas
snuck up behind the women, scaring them both.
“The skeletons in
the Cassadine closet,” Elizabeth laughed.
“Yeah, she said
there’s a bunch of vampires right under Wyndemere,” Beth nodded, a playful
gleam in her eyes.
“You’ve been
talking to Luke again haven’t you Liz?” Nikolas shook his head.
“Nope. I’ve seen them for myself.”
“I just wanted to
know what I was marrying into. Which
reminds me, I have to call my parents.
They have no idea that I’m
getting married,” Beth gasped, grabbing her fiancee’s hand. “Come, I want them
to meet you.”
“Honey, I’m sure
the telephone is not the proper way to meet my future in laws.”
“It’s not, but it’s
all we have right now. Now come on,” Beth
pulled him into the empty office. Elizabeth just giggled and made her way over
to where Lucky and Luke were deep in conversation. She slide her arm around Lucky’s and listened to the
conversation.
“So any more word
from the McCoy’s about the case against you and Liz here?” Luke took a sip from
his scotch, his eyes full of concern.
“Nothing. Dad…you don’t think they have a case do
you? There’s no way they can take our
baby is there?”
Luke shrugged. “I don’t know about the law being much
protection, but I do promise you this.
The McCoys are not going to get their paws into my grandchild
there. No way in hell. I’ll send all three of you on the run
first,” Luke squeezed his son’s shoulder, trying to reassure him that
everything will be fine. “Well your ma
is waving me over. I’ll talk to you two
later,” Luke nodded disappearing into the crowd.
Elizabeth and Lucky
walk outside into the warm afternoon heat.
Elizabeth leaned against the railing of the balcony, her thoughts
swirling between her present and her
past. Lucky embraced her from
behind.
“What are you
thinking about?” He asked.
“It’s
November. This is the anniversary when
I found out Tom Baker was my rapist,” Elizabeth swallowed. “I was just remembering how smug he was.”
“Shhh. Don’t think about him. He’s in jail where he belongs. He can’t hurt you anymore,” Lucky kissed the
top of her head.
“You know, when he
raped me…I felt so dirty and unworthy of love.
I was even considering ending my life at one time. But you came and saved me. You showed me that I wasn’t dirty and I was
worthy of not only your love but the love the world had to offer. We were the
best thing that had came out of the whole situation.”
“I wanted to kill
him when I found out. Especially in that courtroom. I think I would have if it wasn’t for Nik
holding me back.”
“Well thank God you
didn’t. I hate to think of you in jail
for murdering that asshole. If you were
in jail, we wouldn’t be here now, happily married and expecting a child.”
Lucky turned her
around and tightly held her hand. He
looked deeply in her eyes, holding her gaze.
“I promise you Elizabeth, so you’ll never have to question it. I’m always going to protect you and our
child from anything that may threaten us.
Whether it be from the likes of Tom Baker or the McCoys. I won’t let them touch you.”
Elizabeth smiled, a
tear in her eyes. Lucky’s love for her
was so obvious. “I promise the same Lucky.
Tom and the McCoy’s can’t touch us.
Not now, not ever.”
Smiling the newlyweds embraced, for
once truly hopeful for the future.