11
Elizabeth
sat out on the porch, stroking her abdomen, staring out into the sunset as she
thought about Audrey. All the arguments
they had and how Audrey always stood up for her. Grams was really the only person in the Webber family that fully
understood Elizabeth and loved her unconditionally. She never compared her to
Sarah or Steve. She didn’t know how she
was going to make it without her.
“Elizabeth?” Lucky stepped out onto
the porch to see a tear leak from Elizabeth’s eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“Gram…I never told her I loved her
Lucky. I was always so busy with my own
life…I never told her that I loved her.”
“Oh Elizabeth,” Lucky sat down next to
her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
“Audrey knew that you loved her.
She knew.”
“Do you think she knows about the
baby?”
Lucky nodded. “Of course she does. In fact, I believe her and Ruby are this baby’s
guardian angels. Making sure that he or
she is safe.”
Elizabeth smiled at the idea. “I hope you’re right Lucky.”
“Oh no the baby’s name is going to be
Marcus if it’s a boy and Florence if it’s a girl!” Gia came barging out of the
house, Nikolas right behind her.
“That’s ridiculous to name a baby
after your mother and brother!” Nikolas argued.
“It’s better than Stefanovitch! Or Lasha!
What kind of name is Lasha anyway?”
“That’s my mother’s name on the
island.”
“Nikolas, all due respect, but I don’t
think mom’s going to want you to give your daughter that name,” Lucky cleared
his throat. “I’d think it’d have bad
memories for her.”
“See.
Lucky agrees with me,” Gia smiled.
“How about naming her…Alexis. After your aunt?” Elizabeth asked. “Or Natasha. Those are pretty names.”
“Or Lorenzo,” Lucky grinned.
“Lorenzo? What kind of name is that?” Gia made a face.
“My middle name,” Lucky crossed his
arms.
“Then will you name your baby
Mikkosvitch?” Nikolas raised a eyebrow.
Both Gia and Elizabeth giggled.
“That’s your middle name?” Elizabeth
laughed. “Lucky don’t even think about
it.”
“The mother of my child has spoken?”
Lucky grinned at his brother.
“Lucas Nikolas Cassadine is a perfect
name for a boy,” Gia grinned. “Leanne
Leticia Cassadine if it’s a girl.”
“I like that,” Lucky grinned. “What do you say Nikky?”
Nikolas shrugged. “Sounds better than what we had before.”
“Enough
baby talk,” Elizabeth sighed. “Is this
our permanent location or are we just temporary?”
“Until someone recognizes us,” Lucky
shrugged.
The foursome are about to go inside
when a elderly couple step onto the porch.
The woman has gray hair pulled up in a bun and the man was balding and
had a mustache, a cigar hung from his
mouth and he walked with a cane. Lucky
was suddenly on alert. There was
something weird about the couple. He
just couldn’t put his finger on it.
“Hell-lo,” the old man greeted in an
accent Lucky couldn’t place.
“Yes?
May we help you?” Lucky pulled Elizabeth behind him and motioned for
Nikolas to do the same with Gia. He
didn’t trust this couple one bit.
Something didn’t quite fit.
“The little lady and myself were just
wondering if you knew of a inn around these here parts? We’ve had a long ride and now we’re in need
of a soft place to rest and perhaps a meal or two,” the old man puffed on the
cigar, his blue eyes twinkling.
“There’s a inn just up the street
there,” Nikolas pointed. “You can stay
there.”
“But my husband and I can’t go no
further. Please,” the woman’s voice was
now very familiar. Nikolas stops in his
tracks as he begins to go back in. Only
one woman had that voice.
Lucky also suspicious approached the
man and looked at him closely. He
immediately knew the identity of the couple when he looked in the man’s
laughing eyes. Only one man’s eyes
laughed like that.
“You know, I used to have a boy just
like you,” The man grinned, his eyes twinkling. “Used to call him…cowboy.”
Lucky’s eyes widened. He knew it!
He just knew it was them! “Dad?”
“How did you guess?” Luke grinned,
taking off his headpiece and mustache.
“Was it my cigar?”
“Dad!” Lucky threw his arms around his
father and held on so tight, like if he let go Luke would disappear.
“Mom!” Nikolas hugged the woman he knew
was Laura. “How did you find us?”
“We traced your steps,” Luke cleared
his throat. “Which brings up the reason
why we’re here. We better go inside to
talk about this. Is Zander and Emily
inside?”
Elizabeth nodded. “They’re upstairs. I’ll go get them.”
“Wait a minute!” Laura pulled away
from Nikolas and approached both Gia and Elizabeth. “Let me take a look at you,” She turned the girls to face her and
gasped. “Oh my lord, Luke look! It’s true!
We’re going to be grandparents!”
“Why how do you like that,” Luke shook
his head. “A cowboy Jr in the oven.”
“It happened quite by accident,” Lucky
cleared his throat. “I was as surprised
as you two obviously aren’t. How did
you know about the pregnancy?”
“Your credit card showed huge
purchases for baby clothes. We put two
and two together. Which reminds me, we
have to throw that card away now,” Luke cleared his throat. “Let’s get inside so we can talk about this
some more.”
Everyone is seated in the dining room
around the table, eager to hear what the elder Spencer’s have to say.
“Well dad, what is this all about?”
Lucky asked.
“Helena’s on to you cowboy. She followed the money trail, just like we
did. Your mother and I just got to you
faster. We were hoping to all stick
together, but with the girl’s pregnant…things are going to have to change. First thing first, the card,” Luke held out
his hand.
Digging for his wallet, Lucky pulled
out the card and handed it to his father.
With morbid fascination, he cut the card to pieces.
“No more of that. For now
on it’s cash only,” Luke swept the pieces to the floor. He turned to Zander, even grimmer than
before. “Something else came to my
attention as well. Helena and Sorel
have teamed up. If Helena catches up
with us, Sorel catches up with you.”
“So what do we do?” Zander and Emily look at one another.
“Split up. Laura will take
the girls to a safe place where no one will have a clue where they are. And you guys come with me. We disappear ourselves.
Lucky was about to agree to the plan. After all, the safety of the children came first, but Elizabeth
was the first to stand, her eyes blazing with protest. “No!
No I will not be separated from Lucky!”
“That’s right! The same
goes for Nikolas and me! The whole
purpose of running away was to be together!
We won’t be together if you separate us!”
“Gia please,” Nikolas pulled her back into her chair. “This is for the baby’s sake. If Helena catches up with us, she’ll kill
the baby. We can’t let that happen.”
“And I don’t want you and our child in harms way either. It’s bad enough it’s being born a
Spencer. A defenseless Spencer is
something Helena can’t resist. My dream
Elizabeth…this is the only way to make sure it doesn’t come true,” Lucky
pleaded. “Besides, mom will be with you. She’ll take care of all three of you.”
“But Lucky! What if
something happens to you? What if I
never see you again?” tears fill Elizabeth’s eyes. “I won’t be able to survive without you…I need you so much…”
“I’ll make sure nothing happens to Cowboy Elizabeth,” Luke
squeezed her shoulder. “You have my
promise on that. You know I’ll guard
him with my life. And that goes for
Nikolas and Zander as well. I know this
is hard for you. And that you’re
frightened and uncertain of the future.
But believe me, this is the only way to keep the babies safe. As soon as I reach Sonny and have him
neutralize Sorel and I take care of Helena, you three will be together
again. It’ll be like you never were
apart.”
Gia threw her arms around
Nikolas and squeezed her eyes shut. She
had to agree with Luke. For all of
their safety, they were going to have to separate. She just wished she had more time with Nikolas. But this was for the best. What Lucky said was true; her child
especially was in danger. “We’ll be together
soon. I’m sure.”
“Take care,” Nikolas held her as close as he could, wishing that
there was another way.
“So, when do we do this?” Zander
asked, swallowing hard. He could
practically feel Sorel breathing down his neck, threatening Emily and all he
held dear.
“Immediately. Hurry.
We don’t have much time to throw Helena off our trail,” Luke grimly
nodded.
“Come on sweetie. Let’s pack,” Lucky took Elizabeth upstairs
followed by their friends.
Laura looked at Luke a tear shimmering
in her eyes. “This is going to be so
hard for them Luke.”
“I know it will be Angel, but there’s
no other way. If we’re going to keep
both those kids and our grandkids safe, we have to split up. It’ll not only make it harder for Helena and
Sorel, but easier for Lucky and Nikolas.
They won’t have to worry about keeping both the girls and children
safe.”
Laura sighed, knowing that her husband
was right, but seeing the pain in Elizabeth’s eyes just now was heartbreaking. She was going to protect those girls with
her life and do everything in her power
to make sure that this separation was a short one.
Lucky and Elizabeth are just putting
the last of their belongings in a bag when Elizabeth stopped and tearfully looked
at Lucky, wondering if this was the last time she’ll ever see him again. They had already gone through so much…it
wasn’t fair that they were being asked to go through this…separately. And how about her pregnancy? She wanted Lucky there, so they could go
through it together, but now…that was just a dream that neither of them could
afford to have.
Lucky looked up and spotted the tears
in her eyes. He felt so bad for doing
this but he wanted his child to be safe from Helena and the only way to do that
was to leave Elizabeth in the competent hands of his mother. Sighing, he went to her and pulled her into
his arms, holding her as close as he could.
“It won’t be for long sweetie. We’ll be together again soon. Just think, Helena will be just a distant
memory then and we won’t have to worry about her being a threat anymore. We’ll be free.”
“How can you be so sure that it’ll
happen that way Lucky? Things go wrong
all the time. What if she kidnaps you
again and makes you forget our love, just like she did the first time? We were so lucky to have recaptured it…”
“She won’t. Because I’ll be with my dad and Nikolas. Nothing can get by them for too long. Plus, nothing, absolutely nothing can make me
forget my love for you. Even the first
time, it was still there. It was just
hidden. That’s all.”
“Oh Lucky,” She burst into tears,
clinging to his body tightly, wishing that she didn’t have to let him go. That all this was a nightmare and she’ll
wake up safe in Lucky’s arms, the threat of Helena long gone.
“Girls!” Luke’s voice interrupted the
last few moments of her time with Lucky.
Reluctantly he released her, and took her hand in his. “It’s time to fly! Laura’s waiting!”
“We better go,” Lucky grabbed one of her suitcases and led her downstairs where Gia and Emily waited at the door; Laura was busy saying good-bye to Luke. “She’s ready.”
“Lizzie, I promise you, I won’t let
that bat get her hands back on Lucky,” Luke took the girl by the
shoulders. “You have my word as Lucky’s
father and as a Spencer on that.”
“Thank you,” Elizabeth forced a smile,
her unhappiness clear. “And I promise
to take good care of your grandchild.
Good-bye Luke,” She hugged the man that had been there for her so many
times. She was truly going to miss him.
“Now, you remember everything I taught
you about how to survive out there,” Lucky tightly held her hands as she went
to him for a final good-bye.
Elizabeth nodded, her tears now
flowing freely. “Stay safe.”
“I will,” He hugged her one last time,
wishing that he didn’t have to let go, but he knew such a wish was futile. “I love the both of you so much. Remember that.”
Elizabeth pulled away, nodding in
agreement. “You remember it too. I love you.
And our love is stronger then anything Helena can throw at us.”
“Elizabeth honey, we have to go,”
Laura softly reminded her.
She nodded and walked over to the
group, her eyes never leaving Lucky.
“Be careful out there Angel,” Luke
waved, standing next to Lucky.
“I always am. Lucky, don’t give your father too much of a
hard time,” Laura blew a kiss before disappearing out the door with the other
three girls.
Lucky’s shoulders sagged with
defeat. “Please, please protect
Elizabeth,” He prayed.
“She’ll be ok Cowboy. Don’t you worry,” Luke squeezed his son’s
shoulder in reassurance.
“First we return to Port Charles. We’ll deal with the Sorel situation with the
help of Sonny. And then I’ll take care
of Helena,” Luke’s eyes held deadly intent.
“Return to Port Charles? But isn’t that dangerous?” Zander frowned.
“Wait a minute, I get what dad’s
saying. Returning to Port Charles is
exactly what Helena’s not expecting!
It’ll take her totally by surprise.
Besides, the reason why we left was to protect the girls. Well the girls aren’t with us. They’re safe,” Lucky’s eyes widened in
sudden understanding. “Am I right dad?”
“You know me so well don’t you
Cowboy?”
“So when do we return?” Nikolas asked,
standing next to his brother.
“Right now. Let’s get out of here,” Luke grabbed the duffle bag and lead the
teens out the door.