Stolen Moments Chapters 16-22

 

Chapter 16

 

Lucas returned to Port Charles around noon and stopped by the Day Care Center. He had really missed Chase and it was an excuse to see Elizabeth. He walked in and saw Emily, but not Elizabeth. "Hi Emily."

"Oh, you're back. Let me find Chase for you." At that moment, Chase and Loren came running into the room. "Daddy, Daddy, you're home." Lucas caught him in his arms and held him close.

"I missed you, Cowboy. Did you have fun with Loren and Elizabeth?"

He nodded his head and Loren said, "Can he come over again?"

"Of course he can." God, that child was so beautiful, so like her mother. He felt such a bond to this little girl. He wished he knew what it was all about. "Honey, is your mamma around?"

She shook her head and Emily spoke, "She went to Luke's to have lunch with Sonny. Luke's is a blues club over on..."

"I know where it is. I think I'll go over there and try to catch her, thank her for watching Chase. I need to talk to Sonny anyway." He looked at Chase. "I'll pick you up in a little bit, Chase and we'll do something fun tonight."

"Okay, Daddy." He put him down and turned to Emily. "I'll see you later."

He drove the short distance to Luke's and as he pulled up to park his car, he realized that he had not seen this club since coming to town, yet he knew exactly how to get there. He looked up at the sign and was hit with another powerful wave of familiarity. Luke. That was his father's name. He sat immobile for a few moments in the car. His father. Where were his mother and father now? Why couldn't he remember?

Finally, he got out of the car and went inside. Once inside, he was rocked by a memory so powerful his knees felt weak and his hands started to shake. He must have been fifteen or so. He had walked into this very bar and seen his father drinking a clear liquid from a glass. He had walked up to him and his father had said, "Hey, Cowboy, you're home. How are things in North Carolina? What can I get you to drink?"

He had smiled at his father; "I'll have what you're having".

His father had said, "Claude, let's see if he can handle one of these."

Claude, the bartender, had handed Lucas the drink and when he had taken a drink, he had spit it out. "It's WATER! Jesus. Dad, I can't believe you're drinking this vile stuff."

And his father had laughed until he almost cried.

The memory was so strong. What did it mean? Could he and his father really have been in this very club? Did his father own this club? And his father had called him Cowboy, the same nickname he called Chase. He was beginning to wonder what was missing from his past. There were so many things he couldn't remember.

He saw Elizabeth sitting at a table in the center of the room. There weren't too many other people there. He walked up to the table and when Elizabeth looked up at him, he felt his face flush from the memory of the things he had imagined in his motel room the night before. It was almost as if she could read his mind.

"Lucas? How did you know I was here?"

"I stopped to see Chase and Emily told me. I needed to see Sonny, too, so I came on over. I wanted to thank you for watching Chase."

"Oh, it was wonderful. They were up at 5:00 a.m. They couldn't wait to get up and play."

"Well, I hope he wasn't any trouble."

"Of course not. In fact, Loren and I are going to the Carnival tonight and I was wondering if you and Chase would like to go with us."

"That would be great. Let me take you two to dinner to thank you for watching him."

She smiled up at him, "We'd like that. Thank you. But you should go home and take a nap first. You look really tired."

"Yea, I guess I am. I didn't sleep too well last night. Being away from Chase I guess."

"Well, I can put in a word for you with Sonny, so he won't ask you to do anything else today."

Sonny walked out from the back and said, "What about Sonny? Oh, hey, Lucas, how did it go?"

"Fine, no problems."

"Good. I got another job for you."

Elizabeth spoke up. "No Sonny, not today. Look how tired he is. Let him go home and get some sleep before he has to pick up Chase. Besides, we're taking the kids to the Carnival tonight so he has to be on his toes. Please Sonny."

"You know I can never say no to you. Let me just show you what I have in mind, see if you'd be interested."

Lucas smiled at Elizabeth, "Thanks, then turned to Sonny, "Sure, show me what you have." He looked at Elizabeth again, "Will you wait for me? I'll walk you to your car when I'm done."

"I'll wait."

Sonny spoke. "Come on back to the office with me."

Lucas followed him, but realized that he would have known the way without Sonny. He walked into the office and knew he had been there before. A dozen memories came back to him, mostly vague, of talking to his father in this very room, sitting in the chair opposite the desk as his father spun his tales.. He felt that he was losing his footing, and the room started to spin. Sonny noticed his unsteadiness. He placed his hand on Lucas's shoulder. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Yea, yea, I think so." He wasn't ready to discuss this with anyone. He needed to think things through and try to make sense of it all. He needed to know if what he was suspecting was true. Could he be this Lucky that Sonny had told him about? But how could he be? He name was Lucas. Lucky could be a nickname for Lucas. But he had no memory of being "Lucky". Or was that what was happening? Maybe his memories were coming back to him in bits and pieces. And if it were true, where did Elizabeth and Loren come in?

"I think I'm just tired, Sonny."

"Okay, I'll make this quick. Are you good with computers?"

"Yea, not bad."

"Well, our bookkeeper just quit and I need someone who is good on computers. If I do the books, I have to do it by hand, cause I don't know jack about computers. And my partner, Luke, is out of town."

"You own part of this club?"

"Yea."

"Well, I can do that for you, no problem."

"Good, I'll pay you $500 a week."

"Sonny…"

"No arguments. Do you know how hard it is to find good help, someone you can depend on? By the way, here's the rest of your pay for what you just did.." He handed Lucas another envelope and said, "I really appreciate your help, Lucas. It means a lot to have someone you know you can trust."

"I'm just grateful for the work, Sonny. Thanks."

Lucas went back out to where Elizabeth was just as she was standing up and gathering her purse and sweater. She smiled when she saw him approaching, but her expression changed as he got closer. "What's wrong, Lucas? You look so pale."

He motioned for her to walk in front of him toward the door. She stopped to give Sonny a hug on her way out. When they reached her car, Lucas opened the door for her.

"Are you okay, Lucas? We don't have to go to dinner or the carnival tonight."

"It's nothing. I'm just tired. I think I will go home and get some sleep before I pick Chase up. Should we just leave from the day care center to go to dinner?"

"Sure. That would be great."

Lucas and Elizabeth had decided to eat dinner at the carnival, since the kids would probably just want hot dogs anyway. He had told her that he still wanted to take her to dinner soon to pay her pack for watching Chase. They had a great time at the carnival, mostly watching the kids having such a good time. When it got late, they went back to Elizabeth's house and put the kids to bed. It was decided that Chase would spend the night again, since both kids had fallen asleep in the car on the way home.

Now Lucas and Elizabeth were in her living room, Lucas sitting on the couch and Elizabeth in the chair.

"What is it Lucas? You've been so quiet since we left."

He thought for a moment. "It's kind of complicated. I don't know if I can explain it."

"Try. I can tell something is troubling you."

"When I asked you to watch Chase for a minute at the carnival, it was because I though I saw my parents."

"Your parents? Where?"

"They were across the street. I saw this woman, a blonde. She was with a man, taller than her and she was looking in my direction, pointing at me. My heart starteed pounding and I looked away for a second to see if she was looking at someone else, but there was no one behind me. When I looked back she was falling against the man she was with, like she was going to faint, and he was holding her. I tried to get across the street to get to her to see if she was okay. I felt so drawn to her. By the time I got across the street, they were gone. I know it was my parents, Elizabeth. But why would they be here?"

"Where do they live, Lucas?

"I don't know. That's part of my problem. I can't remember a lot about my life, like someone just wiped out my memories. But things in this town keep bringing them back. Some are so subtle I just can't wrap my head around them. Others are so powerful, they make me feel weak, but I still can't get a sense of when they happened, or where."

"Is that what happened at Luke's?"

He nodded. "I've been there before, with my father. His name is Luke."

She got up and walked over to the couch and sat down beside him and touched his arm. "Do you think you have amnesia?"

"I don't know. I just don't know." He looked at her. "I only know that I feel a connection to almost everyone I've met in this town. And Sonny told me I look like someone he used to know. His name was Lucky."

She looked at him, willing him to remember. "What else did he tell you about him?

"Just that he had disappeared mysteriously a few years ago, and that I look just like him." He turned to her. "Did you know him? Did you know Lucky?"

She looked down at her hands and had trouble finding her voice. She felt the tears stinging in her eyes as she said, . "Oh yes, I knew Lucky."

"And do I look that much like him?"

She put her hands on either side of his face, the tears falling now, as she said, "Don't you understand? You are Lucky."

Chapter 17

 

            Lucas stared into Elizabeth's eyes, unable to comprehend what she had

just told him.  He was Lucky.  He had suspected it, yes, but hearing that it

was true had instilled emotions in him that he could not define.  And at the

heart of all those emotions was Elizabeth.  Her tears and the softness of her

voice when she had told him he was Lucky made him feel that they had been

much more than just friends.  But didn't he already know that?  Hadn't he

felt that connection to her the first time he met her, when he had touched

her shoulder, and when he realized he had had the same dream about her over

and over again?   And when he imagined making loving to her when he was alone

in the motel room, it was if he were remembering a real memory.

            He searched her eyes for answers as she spoke again.  "Did you hear

me?  Do you understand? You are Lucky.  You are."  He covered her hands with

his and gently pulled them away from his face and laid them back on her lap. 

He leaned forward and ran his hands through his hair, then pressed the heels

of his hands against his forehead.  If ever there was something he couldn't

comprehend, it was this.  How could he be Lucky, and not be able to remember

anything about being him?  And how was it that he could have known Elizabeth

and not remembered her?  She was so beautiful and seemed so vulnerable at

this moment.  His heart broke for her as he saw the need in her eyes for him

to remember her.

 

            "I'm sorry…I just don't remember being him.  Are you sure?"

            "Oh, I was sure the first time I saw you.  So was Sonny."

            "Why didn't you tell me then?"

            "I was afraid.  You seemed so different, so alone and kind of

isolated from the world.  I didn't want to scare you.  Sonny told me we

should just let you remember in your own time."

            "But I don't remember, Elizabeth.  I don't remember much of anything

about my past."

            "But you do remember things, Luck…I mean Lucas.  You remember so much

more than you realize. How do you suppose you ended up here, in this town and

found both Sonny and me?  And you knew you could trust both of us as soon as

you met us."

            He looked at her, nodding.  "I guess it couldn't have been a

coincidence, me showing up here in Port Charles.  I knew how to get to Luke's

Club, too.  And there's this restaurant; I went to it right away when I first

got to town and never even had to look at the menu to order."

            "Eli's?  Ribs and cheese fries?"

            "Yea, how did you know?"

            She smiled, "Because I know you."

            "I knew your middle name, too."

            "There have been other things."  She looked away as she felt her face

flush at the memory of his kiss the night before.

            He knew that was what she was referring to.  He needed to know what

they had been to each other.  He took her left hand in his and it was then

that he noticed the rings on her finger.  An emerald with two small diamonds

and a wedding band.  He held the ring between his finger and thumb, a flash

of memory coming back to him. He had seen this ring before.  He saw himself

in the jewelry store looking for the perfect ring.  It had to be different

from any other engagement ring, he had told the clerk.  It had to be unique

because the girl he was buying it for was unique, one of a kind.  He had

finally had to design the ring himself and order it.  He stared at the ring

for a long minute then looked into her eyes. 

            "What is it, Lucky?"

            "I've seen this ring before.  I designed it.  I remember."

            She nodded, feeling the tears stinging her eyes again.

            He stood up then and paced the floor until finally resting his hand

on the fireplace mantle.  His gaze fell on a picture of Elizabeth and someone

who looked like a younger version of him on their wedding day.  He looked at

her, his eyes questioning.

            "Elizabeth?  Are we married?"

            She whispered, "Yes."

            "My god."  He took the picture in his hand and looked at it, then

back at her.      "You were so beautiful.  You are so beautiful.  Why can't I

remember you?"

            She got up and went to him then, putting her hand on his arm.  "You

will remember, Lucky, in time.  You'll remember all of it."  She realized she

had called him Lucky again.  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."

            "It's okay, I don't mind if you call me Lucky.  My real name is Lucas

though?  And Lucky is just a nickname?"

            She nodded.  "Your last name is Spencer."

            "Spencer. No wonder it had never seemed right to say the name

Steven's.  How would I have gotten that name?  I'm so confused about what

could have happened to me, Elizabeth."

            "You just have to be patient, Lucky."

            His eyes glazed over as he glanced toward the stairs and she saw a

look of comprehension in his eyes.  He looked at her then, tears welling in

his eyes, "Loren? Is she...?"

            "Yes, Lucky, she's your daughter.  You disappeared before I had a

chance to tell you I was pregnant."

            Now he understood the powerful connection he had felt to Loren the

first time he had seen her, the first time he had held her; and he understood

the look that he and Elizabeth had shared when she told him Loren had her

father's eyes.  She meant that she had his eyes.  Those deep azure blue eyes

like his and Chase's.

            He spoke softly then, "Can I see her? I mean, I know she's asleep; I

just want to look at her."

            "Of course."

 

            Lucky knelt by Loren's bed and stroked her cheek softly as he watched

her sleep.  He felt so much love for this child he had never seen until a few

days before.  He was crying when he looked up at Elizabeth.  She put her hand

on his shoulder,             "Lucky, it's okay."

            "She's my little girl, Elizabeth.  Our little girl.  I loved her the

first time I saw her, you know."

            She nodded.  "I felt the same way about Chase, because he's your

child.  Because he's part of you."

            He stood up then and leaned over to kiss Loren lightly on the

forehead as she slept, then led Elizabeth into the hallway.  "What happened

to me Elizabeth?  What could have happened to make me forget you, to keep me

away from you and our child?  It had to be something completely out of my

control.  I know I would never have left your willingly." 

            "I know you wouldn't have either.   We'll find out what happened to

you, Lucky.   And Sonny will help us."

            He ran his hands through his hair.  He liked the way she had used the

word "we". He touched her arm then.  "Elizabeth, it's late, I should be

going."

            "Why don't you stay here?  You can sleep on the couch.  That way

you'll be here when Chase wakes up."

            "I don't know.  Are you sure?"

            "Of course I'm sure.  Let me get you a pillow and some blankets."

            She returned with the pillow and blankets.  He took them from her and

she reached up to kiss him on the cheek and said, "We'll just take one day at

a time, Lucky, okay?  He looked into her eyes and nodded, trusting that she

was right, that soon he would remember everything.  As she started to pull

away, he caught her around the waist with one arm and put the other on the

side of her face.  As he pulled her close to him he kissed her softly,

lingeringly on the mouth, then whispered, "I don't remember loving you

before, Elizabeth, but I can't imagine ever loving you more then than I do at

this moment."

 

Chapter 18

 

            Elizabeth tossed and turned after she went to bed, unable to sleep. 

Finally, after looking at the clock and seeing it was nearly 2:30 A.M., she

decided to go downstairs and get a glass of wine.  She made her way quietly

down the back steps into the kitchen.  As she opened the refrigerator door,

she was startled by the voice she heard behind her.  "Are you okay,

Elizabeth?"

            She turned, not expecting Lucky to still be awake, too.  He had

looked so tired and she knew he needed to sleep.  She knew the past week had

been an emotional one for him, from returning to his hometown, to finding his

way to both her and Sonny, seeing his parents, and learning that he was

married and had another child.   And he had told her that he loved her.  Her

heart skipped a beat at the memory of his words and the kiss they had shared

earlier.  She remembered the way his lips had felt against hers, so soft and

warm, and the memories of their past kisses haunted her, making sleep

impossible.

            Finally, she spoke.  "You couldn't sleep either?"  He shook his head

and she went to him, reaching up to push a piece of hair from his eye.  She

had never seen him with such long hair and she decided that she liked it; it

suited him.  "You look so tired, Lucky.  I wish you could get some sleep."

            "I haven't slept well in a long time.  There are just so many things

going through my head right now.  All these memories coming back to me in

bits and pieces.  There are so many things I don't understand."   He looked

at her with such tenderness she wanted to cry.  "Have you gotten any sleep at

all?"

            "Maybe just a little.  Let me get you something to drink.  I thought

a little wine might help me sleep."

            He nodded.  "Yea, that would be good."

            They carried their wine into the living room and sat side by side on

the couch."

            He spoke first.  "There's something I want to talk to you about."

            "What is it?"

            "Well, two things really.  The first is about Chase and Loren.  I'm

confused about how they can be the same age."

            "I've talked to Sonny about that.  I assume you don't have his birth

certificate? "

            "No, that was never found.  I don't even know where he was born,

though I suspect it was close to here."

            "Sonny is going to do some investigating to try and find out where he

was born and who his mother is.  You don't remember her at all, do you?"

            "No, not at all.  And it doesn't make any sense that I would have

been with someone else while we were married.  I mean, even though I don't

remember, I feel like we must have had a good marriage."

            "Oh, Lucky, it was the best.  Whatever happened had to have been

against your will.  I'll see Sonny tomorrow and see if he's come up with

anything yet."

            "Okay.  I need to find out if my parents are in town, too.  If they

are, I need to see them.  I know it was them I saw at the carnival.  I just

don't understand how I can remember them, though not everything about them, 

and not you."

            She thought for a moment before answering, then touched his arm as

she said, "Well, I think it makes perfect sense.  You spent your whole life

with them, and only a few years with me.  It makes sense that if you remember

anyone it would be them."

            He put his hand on the side of her face, "It doesn't bother you that

I remember them and not you?"

            "No, Lucky, and besides, I still think you do remember me, but the

memories are hidden in your subconscious.  You said there were two things you

wanted to talk to me about.  What's the other?"

            "I'm a little embarrassed about it."

            "Lucky, you don't ever have to be embarrassed with me."

            He hesitated for a minute before speaking and she could tell he was

weighing his words carefully.  When he did speak, it was softly.  "I'm sorry

about what happened earlier.  When I kissed you."

            "Sorry?  Why?"

            "I shouldn't have, but it just felt so right.  I'm sorry if it upset

you."  He laughed a little to himself and shook his head.  "Man, I feel like

I've really turned your life upside down.  I really am sorry."

            She couldn't believe he was sorry for kissing her, but then, he could

have no way of knowing how much she wanted him to kiss her.  "There's

something you need to understand.  I loved you with all my heart before you

disappeared.  I never stopped loving you and I never will.  I've prayed for

you to come back to me every day since you've been gone.  You have nothing to

be sorry about."

            "Well, I want you to know that I meant what I said before.  I do love

you.  I know it sounds crazy since I haven't even known you for a week, but

it's the truest thing about my life right now.  It's so easy for me to

understand why I loved you before."  There were tears in his eyes and she

knew she was going to cry, too. They had cried together so many times.  It

was one of the things she loved the most about Lucky; he was never afraid to

show his emotions. 

            She put her arms around him and he pulled her close for a long

minute.  He pulled away slightly and looked at her. "Will you stay down here

with me tonight?  I'm so tired of being alone."  She nodded as he pulled her

head against his shoulder and leaned back on the couch.  "Try to get some

sleep, Elizabeth.  We can talk more about this in the morning."

 

            Sonny sat at the desk in the office of Luke's club.  It was early,

and he had stopped by just to pick up some paperwork.  He looked up when he

heard the door open and was surprised to see Luke.  It had been nearly a year

since Luke and Laura had left Port Charles.  Laura had been unable to deal

with the memories of Lucky that seemed to be everywhere she went.  She and

Luke and come back to visit Elizabeth and Loren occasionally, but he hadn't

seen Luke in several months.

            "Well, look what the cat dragged in."

            "Nice to see you, too.  How's it going, partner?"

            "Not too bad.  Business is good, Moreno hasn't pulled any shit

lately, and now you're standing here in front of me.  Life is sweet. How

'bout you?  You here to see Elizabeth and Loren?"

            "Yea, thought we would surprise her.  We're back to stay, man. 

Laura's doing a lot better and she misses the old house.  We're gonna give it

a try, see how it goes."

            "Good, I can use some help around here."

            They both laughed, knowing that most of the work that was done in the

club was done by their faithful bartender, Claude, who had been with them

since opening the club some years earlier.

            "I need to ask you something, Sonny.  Laura and I went to the

carnival last night, thinking Liz may be there with Loren."

            "She did mention that they were going."

            "We didn't find them.  But Laura swears she saw Lucky.  Saw this kid

from across the street and tried to point him out to me, but I couldn't see

him.  She nearly fainted, man.  She swears it was him.  So I was wondering if

you've seen anyone around town who maybe looks like Lucky."

            "Luke, you probably better sit down."

            "Why?  What is it?"  He took the chair opposite the desk where Sonny

was seated.  "Tell me, Sonny."

            "Yea, I've seen a kid who looks like Lucky.   Saw him on the docks

about a week ago, gave him a job.  Luke, his name is Lucas Stevens, but

there's no doubt in my mind.  He is Lucky.  He just doesn't know it."

            Luke looked at him, disbelieving.  "My son is alive?"

            Sonny nodded.  "Elizabeth and I both know it's him.  He was with her

at the carnival.  He's got a kid.  A son. Same age as Loren."

            Luke got up and started pacing the floor.  "Sonny, how can this be? 

How can he be back here and not know who he is?  And have a son the same age

as Loren?  That doesn't make any damn sense.  Jesus, Sonny.   Jesus, what the

hell happened to him?"

            "I'm working on it, Luke.  I'm trying to find out where and when the

kid was born and who his mother is.  Lucky' pretty vague about her, I know

doesn't remember her."

            "Man, I need to see him.  I need to see my son. Do you know where he

is?"

            "You could check with Elizabeth.  She might know where to find him,

since they were at the carnival together last night.  I gave him a job here

at the club, doing the books.  He needed work, so I gave it to him."

            Luke looked at Sonny in disbelief again.  "Liz has seen him?"

            "Yea, he took Chase to the day care center.  She freaked out at first

but I convinced her not to tell him, that he needed to figure things out on

his own.  I think he has some memories.  He was here yesterday and acted

pretty weird when he came in the office, like he was remembering something."

            "Sonny, I gotta go get Laura.  We'll go see if Liz knows where Lucky

is."

            "Good luck, I'll check ya later."

 

            Elizabeth awoke when she heard Loren and Chase running down the

steps.  She was lying on the couch, a blanket over her.  She remembered

drinking the wine and falling asleep in Lucky's arms, but he wasn't in the

room with her now.  She could smell food cooking in the kitchen.

            "Mommy, Mommy, we're hungry."

            "I know, come on, let's go find something to eat."

            They went into the kitchen to find Lucky at the stove, fixing french

toast.

            "Daddy!!!"  Chase ran to him and he picked him up.  Lucky glanced at

Elizabeth before speaking.  "I just got here, Chase.  I thought I would fix

you and Loren your favorite breakfast.  Maybe after we eat we can all go to

the park or the zoo."  Elizabeth smiled at him and he said, "I hope you don't

mind,  I kinda took over your kitchen."

            "Of course not."

            Loren went up to Lucky and pulled on his sleeve.  "French toast is my

favorite, too."

            He knelt down and looked into her eyes, those eyes that were so much

like his. "It's mine and Chase's favorite and I'm glad you like it, too."  He

looked up at Elizabeth, touched that Loren seemed to be comfortable with him

being there,  and she touched his arm as she passed by him to get juice for

the kids.

            After they ate, Chase and Loren went upstairs to play and Lucky and

Elizabeth cleaned the kitchen.

            "Thank you, Lucky.  I love that you fixed us all breakfast."

            "You were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to wake you, and I knew

they'd be hungry when they got up." 

            They were quiet for a few minutes until Lucky stopped what he was

doing and looked at Elizabeth.  "Thank you for staying with me last night. 

It felt good to have you there."

            She nodded, knowing that she would be unable to speak even if she

tried.  The doorbell rang and interrupted the moment. 

            "Do you want me to get it?"

            "Sure, I'll be right there."

            Lucky went to the door and opened it and saw Luke and Laura, and a

flood of memories came back to him.  "Mom, Dad?  It's me, Lucky."

Chapter 19

 

                        Although Sonny had told Luke that the man Laura had seen the

night before had most likely been Lucky, seeing him standing before him

rendered him speechless.  He looked older, taller, and so incredibly tired.

He could see in his eyes the toll the past three years had taken on him. 

Laura let out a small cry and reached for Luke's arm as she whispered,

"Lucky".  Neither of them had expected to find him at Elizabeth's house.

            Luke found his voice, and said softly, "So it's true.  It really is

you."

            Lucky nodded and opened the door wider to let them inside.  Laura

could not take her eyes from Lucky as he approached her and pulled her to him

in a long embrace.  When he pulled away he looked at her, smiling sadly as he

wiped away a tear from her face.  "Mom, you need to know that I don't

remember very much about my past.  I haven't known who I really was for a

long time. I don't remember Elizabeth or Sonny, but I was drawn to them when

I came here.  Then I saw you last night at the carnival."

            Laura looked at him, startled. "You saw me?"

            He nodded.  "I saw you pointing toward me from across the street and

I saw you start to fall.  I tried to get to you, to help you, but by the time

I got across the street, you were gone.  But I knew it was you and Dad.  I

recognized you."

            "Oh, Lucky…."

            "And just now when I opened the door and saw you, a lot of memories

came back to me, kind of like a fast moving picture."

            Luke had been silent and finally spoke.  "Good memories, Son, or bad

ones?"

            He looked at Luke and felt the tears welling in his eyes.  He

remembered the connection he had always had with his father, even when things

had been bad between them, and he felt it now. He could not remember what had

happened for them to become estranged, only that there had been a time when

they were.  "Both.  I remember times when things weren't good between us, but

not really the reasons.  But I also remember great times, with you and Mom,

when I was younger.  I remember the diner, and the two of you dancing all the

time.  And I remember moving here, into the big house.  I remember a lot

about that.  Until I saw you I didn't remember any of it.  I'm still

remembeing things now."

            Luke looked at Lucky, trying to make this be his son, so grown up and

so much taller than the last time he had seen him.  "We did have some pretty

rough times."

            "What about when I left?  Were things good between us then?"

            "Yea, we were getting there."

            "I had a memory of you the other day when I went to Luke's to see

Sonny and Elizabeth.  When I walked in, I remembered one day when I asked

Claude to fix me whatever you were drinking…"

            Luke started to laugh at the memory said, "And you took a drink and

spit it out because it was water.  You were expecting something a lot

stronger.  That was a classic Lucky moment."  He laughed until there were

tears rolling down his face, and he said, "Come here, son," and they embraced

for a long moment.

 

            Elizabeth had started to go into the room to see who was at the door,

but when she saw that it was Luke and Laura, she took the kids back upstairs

to give Lucky some time alone with them.  Loren was anxious to see her

grandparents and after a few moments she could no longer hold her back.  She

ran down the stairs squealing with delight at seeing them and Luke caught her

in his arms and swung her around.  "There's my little princess.  When did you

get so big?  It hasn't been that long since we saw you last."  She giggled as

he passed her to Laura. 

Elizabeth passed Lucky and touched his arm briefly before hugging Luke and

Laura.  "I know this is a shock."

            "You might say that.  Laura saw Lucky last night so I asked Sonny if

he had seen a kid who looked like Lucky.   That's when he told us that it was

Lucky.  We thought you might know where he was."

            "I'm sure you didn't expect to find him here."

            "No, but I'm glad we did."  Luke looked toward the stairs and saw

Chase sitting on the bottom step.  "Is that my grandson?"

            Lucky went to Chase and picked him up, taking him to Luke and Laura. 

"Chase, these are your grandparents.  You don't really know what that word

means yet, but you will soon."

            "Lucky…my god, he looks just like you.  May I take him?" 

            "Of course."  Chase went willingly to Laura and hugged her.  Lucky

smiled and thought, Chase has always been a good judge of character, just

like his father and his grandfather.

            Elizabeth spoke then.  "Why don't we all sit down and I'll make some

coffee."

            "Chase and Loren and I will help."  Laura wanted to give Luke and

Lucky some time alone.  She knew her son.  Even though It had been over three

years since she had seen him, she knew there were things he would tell Luke

that he could not tell her.

 

            Lucky sat on the couch with Luke opposite him in the chair.  "I'm

still just blown away by this.  To find out you're still alive after all

these years.  It's the best day of my life, Lucky."

            "It's good to finally start remembering some things, you know.  When

I first came here I would get these flashes of…something.  I never could

define what they were….like flashes of memories, but I could never wrap my

head around what I was really remembering.  Like with Loren; the first time I

held her, the feeling was so strong, like the first time I held Chase when he

was six months old. I felt such a strong connection to both of them."

            "You'd never seen him before he was six months old?"

            "No.  I don't even remember his mother.  She died and I found out I

was named his legal guardian. I never knew about him before."

            Luke looked confused.  "He seems to be about the same age as Loren. 

Doesn't that strike you as odd?"

            He nodded.  "He's only a few weeks younger than her.  Sonny is trying

to find out where he was born and who his mother was.  I just can't imagine

that I was seeing someone else while I was with Elizabeth.  I mean, even

though I don't remember her, or remember loving her, I just know I wouldn't

have done that to her."

            "No, son, you never would have done that to her.  Have you ever

considered that he may not be your child?"  Luke thought about what he had

said  for a moment then reconsidered. "Well, of course he's your son.  He

looks just like you.  Listen, your mother and I have been gone for quite a

long time, but we're home to stay this time. With Sonny's help, we'll help

you fill in the mysteries of the past three years.  You don't remember

anything about where you've been?  Or the night you disappeared?"

            Lucky shook his head.  "Nothing at all.  But I remember new things

every day.  More important to me is remembering Elizabeth.  She is just so

incredible, Dad.  I want to remember everything. I want to remember

everything about her.  I want to remember loving her."

            "I can see in your eyes that you love her now."

            Lucky nodded and started to respond,  but Elizabeth and Laura entered

the room then and Laura sat down beside Lucky, taking his hand in hers.  A

sudden memory came to him and he pressed his hand to his head, looking at

Laura.  "Lulu.  I remember Lulu.  Where is she?"

            "She's with her Aunt…your Aunt Bobbie right now.  She remembers you,

too, Lucky and she will be one very happy little girl to find out her brother

is back home."

            He nodded, feeling overwhelmed by the memories he was having.  He

felt the headache starting just behind his eyes.  He hadn't slept at all the

night before and he knew he needed to get some sleep. 

            As if she knew what he was thinking, Laura stood up and said, "Lucky,

I think we should leave now and let you get some rest.  You look so tired."

            "I am tired, Mom.  I'm sorry.  But I want to see you again, soon. 

I'll stop by the house later on today, okay?  Maybe being there will spark

some memories for me, too."

            They all said their good byes and after they were gone, Elizabeth

turned to Lucky.  "Are you okay?"

            "Yea, I'm fine, better now that I've seen them."

            Why don't you go upstairs and get some rest?  We can talk about this

later.  I'm going to take the kids out for awhile"

            "Thanks.  I feel like I may be able to sleep now, for a little while

anyway."

 

            Elizabeth was gone for several hours and when she returned she told

the kids to play quiety in the living room in case Lucky was still asleep. 

She went upstairs and as she was walking down the hallway she heard music

coming from her bedroom.        She stopped at the door and listened to the

familiar sounds of Lucky playing his guitar.  She had kept it in the corner

of her bedroom after he disappeared, in fact, had kept all of his belongings,

believing that he would return one day. 

            She heard his voice, then, singing softly and felt the tears start to

fall as she listented to the familiar words:  "....know that I will catch you

if you might fall.  Elizabeth, go to sleep, I wanna watch you breathe, I

wanna feel God's peace...all I want is this...Elizabeth..."

 

Chapter 20

 

    Elizabeth listened at the door for several minutes before she slowly

turned the knob and entering the room quietly, not wanting to startle him. 

He was sitting on the edge of the bed, playing the guitar and singing softly.

 She waited for a few minutes before saying anything.  Finally she called out

to him,  "Lucky?"

    He looked up at her, and saw her tears and immediately stopped playing,

getting up from the bed and gently placing the guitar back in the corner of

the room where he had found it.  He turned to her then, running his hands

through his hair, as he spoke, apologetically, "I'm sorry, Elizabeth.  I

shouldn't have….it's just that I saw the guitar there….and sometimes playing

music gets me out of my head for awhile, you know?  I'm sorry, I should have

asked first."

    "It's okay, Lucky.  That's your guitar.  You used to play all the

time….before.  Do you still?"

    He nodded.  "Yea, I do.  I have a guitar now and I've written a couple of

songs, too.  It helps relax me."  He approached her and placed his hand

gently on her arm.      "If it's okay that I played the guitar, then why are

you crying?"

    "That song you were singing….how did you know it?"

    "I don't know.  It just came to me as I was playing.  Do you know it?"

    She nodded and looked up at him.  "You wrote that song for me a long time

ago."

    "I wrote it?"

    "Yes.  It was the summer you lived in the boxcar, the summer we fell in

love."

    He looked at her, confused.  "I lived in a boxcar?"

    "You weren't getting along with your parents so you left home, and you

lived in an old abandoned boxcar for awhile until it got too cold.  You wrote

that song for me while you lived there, while I was painting murals on the

walls so it would look like a home.  I remember the first time I heard the

song.  You had given me a tape of what was supposed to be some of your

favorite music, but you gave me the wrong tape, or thought you did.  You

realized it and came back for it before I had a chance to listen to it, so I

gave the tape back to you and put the other one in to listen to while you

were still there.  I still remember the look on your face when you heard that

song.  You were so embarrassed.  But I thought it was the most beautiful

thing I had ever heard."  Tears were streaming down her face as she

remembered.  Lucky had taken her hand and they both sat on the bed as she

continued.  "You begged me to give the tape back.  You told me you could do

better, but I wanted that tape, because it was the first one and your voice

sounded so beautiful.  I think that was the first time I was really sure that

I loved you, and that you might feel the same way.  Finally you let me keep

the tape, and I played it over and over again.  I still have the tape.  I've

played it sometimes late at night when I'm really missing you.  It makes me

feel closer to you."  She looked into his eyes, searching for some sign of

recognition or memory, but saw none.  "You don't remember, do you?"

    He shook his head and said sadly, "No, I'm sorry.  I wish I did."

    "You had told me that you used a guitar that you borrowed from your

cousin to make the tape, so I bought you your own guitar.  The night I gave

it to you was the night you first sang the song to me in person.  It was also

the first night you kissed me.  It was a wonderful night, Lucky.  We were

both so happy."

    He took her hand in his.  "I want to remember those things, Elizabeth.  I

want to remember you.  I want those memories to come back."

    "But don't you see, some part of you does remember, or you wouldn't have

been able to sing that song just now.  For some reason all your memories of

me are buried in your subconscious."

    "But why?  It doesn't make any sense.  You were the most important thing

in my life.  How could I have forgotten that?"

    "Lucky, I've been thinking about this.  Have you considered talking to

someone?"

    "You mean a psychiatrist?"

    She nodded.  "I think it might help.  It's helped me in the past."

    "You've needed to go for counseling?"

    Elizabeth considered telling him about the time she was raped and how he

had found her in the park that night after it happened, how he had become her

savior and helped her get her life back, how his friendship and love had made

everything bearable.   She remembered that he had been so upset when he found

her and he had taken her to his parent's house and called his Aunt Bobbie,

who was a nurse.  He had been so constant with her from that night on, always

there when she needed him, but backing off when he sensed she needed to be

alone.  He knew her so well, and it seemed he was able to read her every

thought and was, therefore, able to give her exactly what she needed.  That

was how it had been with them, each the other half of a whole.  She decided

not to tell him, that it was probably best that he remember on his own.  He

had enough to deal with emotionally right now and she didn't want him to have

to relive that part of his past just yet.

    "It was a long time ago.  And it's all a part of what you'll remember one

day.  I just don't want to overwhelm you with memories right now.  I think if

you talked to someone objective, you might be able to remember and they may

be able to figure out what happened to you, or if you have amnesia.  Will you

at least think about it?"

    "Yea, I will.  I think it might be a good idea." 

    "Good.  You still look so tired, Lucky.  Were you able to get any sleep

while we were gone?"

    "A little.  It wasn't what I would call a restful sleep, but I did

sleep."  He seemed deep in thought for a moment, then turned to Elizabeth. 

"Did something bad happen to you, Elizabeth?  If it did, I want to know."

    "Lucky…" 

    She was interrupted when the door burst open and Chase and Loren rushed

in.  Loren was carrying the phone.    "Mommy, the telephone is for you. It's

Grandma"    She handed Elizabeth the cordless phone.  "Thanks, sweetie." 

Lucky listened as she spoke into the phone.  "Hi,  Laura…Yea, we left for a

bit and he was able to get some sleep….that would be great,,,I know the kids

are probably hungry and I want to see Lulu.  Let me check with Lucky to be

sure he's up for it."  She covered the phone with her hand.  "Your mom wants

us to come over for dinner.  Pizza, or something simple.  Is it okay?"

    He nodded.  "Of course.  I told them I'd come over later.  I want to see

Lulu, too."

    Elizabeth finished her conversation with Laura and hung up the phone. 

"Okay, you two, go in the bathroom and wash your hands and get whatever you

want to take with you.  We'll be leaving in a few minutes."

    "Are we going to see Lulu?"

    "Yes, honey, we're going to see Lulu."

    Loren left the room, skipping as she went, with Chase following behind. 

Elizabeth turned to Lucky.  "She loves Lulu so much.  They have a great time

together.  I'm so glad they've decided to stay home this time."

    Lucky got up from the bed and walked over to the window, looking out at

the rain that had begun to fall.  Finally he turned to Elizabeth, who was

standing behind him now, her hand on his back.  "How could I have forgotten

my little sister?"

    "The important thing is that you remember her now.  She's going to be so

happy to see you, Lucky.  She's never forgotten you, not for one day."

    "Like you."

    She put her hand to his face, wiping away a tear, and whispered, "Like

me."

 

 

    The memories came flooding back to Lucky as they pulled up to Luke and

Laura's house.  He realized he could not wait to see Lulu.  He remembered her

as a shy, quiet five year old who worshipped her big brother, and was not

prepared for the sight of her at eight years old as the door flung open and

she raced toward him.   "Lucky!!!"  He caught her in his arms and though she

was taller and a lot bigger than the last time he had seen her, he picked her

up and held her to him tightly, both of them crying.  He held her for a long

time before finally putting her down and kneeling down to pull her into his

arms again. He looked into her eyes and saw the love for him that had been

there before.  "I always knew you would come back, Lucky.  Elizabeth and I

were the only ones who knew.  I missed you so much."

    He glanced up at Elizabeth, then back at Lulu.  "I missed you, too, Lulu.

 But you know what?  I'm not going away ever again."

    "Do you promise?"

    "I promise.  I could never leave you again."  He pulled her to him again

before taking Chase's hand and drawing him in.  "Lulu, this is your nephew,

Chase.  Chase, this is Daddy's sister.  Her name is Lulu."

    Lulu gathered Chase in her arms and hugged him as Loren rushed to her for

a hug, too.  Lulu gave Elizabeth a quick kiss before she grabbed Chase and

Loren by the hands and headed for the house.

    Elizabeth turned to Lucky.  "Are you okay?"

    "Yea, just a little emotional right now.  She's so beautiful and so grown

up."

    She took his hand and they headed toward the front door where Luke and

Laura stood waiting.  No words were necessary between them.  Lucky hugged

both his mother and father before entering the house.  Once inside the door,

he stopped, his mind reeling from the memories he was having.  He pressed his

hand to his head, feeling the same pain he had felt earlier.  He had been

experiencing that a lot lately, feelings of intense pain in his head that

lasted for just a few moments.  The pain seemed to be getting increasingly

worse. 

    Luke noticed and put his hand on Lucky's shoulder.  "Son, you okay?"

    "Yea, just a little headache.  Lots of memories coming back to me again. 

This house…."

    "Well, you spent a lot of time in this house.  You're going to remember

some great times and some not so great times.  But I hope not too many of

those."

    Lucky nodded, then stepped into the living room, stopping for a moment

before he walked over to the fireplace to look at the pictures displayed

there.  There were pictures of him with his parents and Lulu and on of him

with Lulu and another boy around his same age.  He did not recognize him.   

He wandered around a little longer until he came to stop by the end of the

couch nearest the door.  "I remember something…what is it?"    He looked at

Luke,  "Something happened here between you and me."  Luke only nodded sadly,

and Lucky began to remember.  A scene was playing in his head.  He was

crying, and he and his father were arguing.  He looked at Luke and it all

came back to him then, the reason his father and he had been estranged for so

long.  He had found out that Luke had raped Laura, and had confronted him in

this very room, had listened painfully as Luke recounted the entire story to

him.  He had needed to know what had happened.  He had needed to know what

could have driven his father, who he had worshipped his entire life, to

commit such a horrible act, and against his own mother.  He had needed to

understand how it was that she came to marry the man who had raped her.  He

remembered feeling that his whole life had been a lie and he remembered how

he had quietly gathered his things before leaving the house for the last time

that night.  He remembered how he had hated his father for so long after

that, how he had wanted only to put as much distance between them as he

could. 

    He sunk back on the arm of the couch and put his head in his hands.

    Laura looked at Luke and nodded as she took Elizabeth's hand and they

left the room.  She knew this was something that Lucky and Luke had to deal

with alone.     Luke went to Lucky, afraid that he was going to turn against

him again like he had that night so many years ago.  Before Lucky disappeared

they had finally begun to make peace with each other.  He put his hands on

Lucky's shoulders.  "Son, what you're remembering happened a long time ago,

in another life."

    Lucky looked up at Luke.   He could not believe the clarity of his

thoughts now.   "I know, Dad.  I know.  I wish I could have seen that then. I

wasted so much time hating you, so much precious time, and we'll never get it

back."

    "Well, you know what, Son, I'm a-live-in the-moment kind of guy, and I

say we just be happy that we have another chance and make the most of the

moments we do have now."

    Lucky nodded and felt the tears starting again.  "I never really stopped

loving you, Dad, you know that don't you?"

    Luke whispered.  "I had hoped that was true.  That was the one thing that

kept me going, the hope that one day you would realize that."

    "I think I just hated what you had done, and hated the thought that my

whole life had been based on a lie."

    "But it wasn't a lie, Lucky.   Your mother and I loved each other and we

loved you from the moment you were conceived.  You were our hope, our future,

you were the best parts of both of us."  He smiled.  "Well, I think you got

more of her, thank God."

Lucky smiled then and it was the first time Luke had seen him smile since

seeing him earlier at Elizabeth's house.  "I know all of that now, Dad.  I

can see it so clearly.  I should never have turned my back on you the way I

did."

    "You had your reasons, Lucky.  And they were very valid reasons."

    "What reasons?"

    "You don't remember do you?  You don't remember why you were really so

upset about it?"

    "No.  Tell me."

    "Oh, Lucky, it's not my place to give you that memory."

    "It has something to do with Elizabeth doesn't it?  I know something

happened to her, but she won't tell me.  She wants me to remember on my own."

    "I think that's probably best, Lucky."

    He nodded.  "Elizabeth wants me to talk to someone."

    "A shrink?"

    "Yea.  Do you know anyone?"

    "Sure, I know a couple.  Kevin Collins is a shrink.  Want me to talk to

him for you?"

    "Would you?" 

    Luke nodded and as he started to speak, the doorbell rang.  Luke started

for the door, then turned back.  "Welcome home, Cowboy."  He hugged him

tightly to his chest before going to answer the door.  Laura and Elizabeth

had entered the room when they heard the doorbell.  Elizabeth had gone

directly to Lucky and he had put his arm around her.  She could see that he

was okay, that he and Luke had resolved their issues from the past.

    "Sonny.  What brings you over to our side of town?"

    "I wanted to see your beautiful wife and daughter for one thing, but I

also wanted you to go with me to see Lucky and Elizabeth."

    Luke opened the door wider to allow Sonny to come in.  "They're here,

Sonny.  What is it?"

    Sonny looked at Luke, then to Lucky and Elizabeth.  "We found out who

Chase's mother is."

 

 

Stolen Memories

Chapter 21

 

            Luke closed the door as Sonny entered the living room, went to Laura and gave her a hug and then approached Lucky and Elizabeth.  Lucky looked down at Elizabeth and gently took her hand in his, knowing that what Sonny was about to tell them could hurt her deeply, and said, "Sonny, how?  How did you find out who Chase's mother is?"

            Sonny put a hand on each of Elizabeth's arms, looked briefly at Lucky and then back at her and said softly, "Elizabeth, we found Chase’s original birth certificate.  He was born the same day as Loren.  Sweetheart, they're twins.  Chase and Loren are twins."          Elizabeth felt her knees weaken.  She looked at Lucky and then Sonny, a look of shock and disbelief in her eyes, searching their faces for some explanation.   She heard a small sigh of relief escape from Lucky's lips as he ran his hand through his hair and said.  "Sonny, are you sure?”

            He nodded.  "Yea, I've talked to Elizabeth's doctor.  That was where I started.  See, I had this feeling about it.  I knew how solid you two were, and I knew Lucky would never…well, I knew he would never be with someone else.  You were always the one for him.  He never gave a thought to other women.  There had to be another explanation.  So I went to see your doctor and I got him to talk."

            Luke spoke up.  "Sonny, I'm not even gonna ask you what you did to make him talk."

            "I took Jason with me.  He can look pretty intimidating when he wants to."

            Luke laughed.  "That he can.  Tell us more."

            "Your doctor was being blackmailed, but he had no idea who was doing the blackmailing.  Someone paid him a lot of money to provide information about Elizabeth's pregnancy.  He doesn't know anything about what happened to Lucky.  All he could tell me was that once Elizabeth became pregnant the plan was to kidnap the baby as soon as she gave birth and lead her to believe the baby had died.   When they found out she was having twins, and that one was a boy, they wanted only the boy.  The heir, I presume."

            Elizabeth, who had said nothing up until now, and who had slumped down onto the couch with Lucky beside her, finally said, "Sonny, I don't understand.  How?  I mean, I would have known I was having twins…wouldn't I?"

            "Apparently not.   He told me that because the babies were small, it was easy to keep that information from you."

            "But I would have known when they were born."

            Laura spoke up.  "Wasn't someone in the room with you, Elizabeth?  I remember Audrey being there with you while we were in the waiting room.”

            She nodded.  "Gram was there.  But remember, she got a call just before and was gone until after Loren was born.  She was so upset that she missed the birth.  And I don't remember much about it.  I always wondered why I couldn't remember."

            Sonny’s eyes revealed his disgust at what had been done to her. "They gave you drugs so you wouldn't remember.  It was a very well thought out scheme."

            "Do you think this has something to do with Lucky being kidnapped?"

"I think it has everything to do with Lucky being kidnapped, though I'm not sure either of you was the real target."

She looked at Lucky, her eyes desperate.  "Who would want to hurt us like that, Lucky? Who would want to tear our family apart like that?"

Luke was pacing the floor, listening to the conversation without saying anything.  Finally he could remain quiet no longer.  "That’s it, of course!  The heir!  Both my heirs!!”  His face showed his grief as he said.  "It was about revenge, Son, revenge against me.  Not against you, or Elizabeth, or those two innocent babies.  It was all about me, and only me.  And I only know one person who would derive such great pleasure out of denying me my heirs.  Stefan Cassadine."

Lucky squeezed Elizabeth's hand tightly and stood up, going to Luke.  "Stefan Cassadine.  I know that name.  I remember him.  I mean I remember him from the time I was gone.  He was there."

            A look of realization came over Luke. "Wait a minute.  You were going by the name Lucas Stevens, right?"  Lucky nodded.  "Stevens.  Stefan.  Of course!  He gave you his name so you would no longer be a Spencer.  And my bet is that he used some kind of drug on you to make sure you didn't remember anything about your life as Lucky Spencer.  He wanted to make sure my name stopped with me”

            Laura touched Luke's arm.  "Luke, do you really think…?"

            He laughed bitterly.  "Hell, I know it Laura.  Jesus, I'll kill that son of a bitch myself."

            Lucky had his fingertips to his eyes, pressing them, trying to make sense of all that he had heard and to try and make the pain in his head go away.   "I don't understand how I came to get Chase, though.  I mean, why would he allow me to have him?"

            "Probably because he thought you would never remember being Lucky Spencer.  He was counting on that.  You don't remember the woman who claimed to be Chase's mother?"

            "No.  I've had dreams about a blonde woman.  I don't know who she is.  I mean, I see her face in the dream, but I don’t recognize her."

Elizabeth began to cry and Lucky went to her, sitting beside her and pulling her into his arms as she whispered,  “He took you away from me, Lucky and then he took our son.  Our son, Lucky.  Chase is our son.”  She looked into Lucky’s eyes, tears streaming down her face.  “But you know, I think I always knew he was mine.  I felt that strong connection to him the first time I saw him. He looked so much like you.  It was just like what you explained when you first saw him, and when you first saw Loren.”

Lucky could only nod, his mind still reeling from the events of the past days.  Starting with learning that he and Elizabeth were married, that Loren was his child, and then his reunion with his parents.  My God, was that only this morning?  It seemed a lifetime ago to him, so much had happened since then.  He had remembered why he had been estranged from his father, and had made peace with him, finally.  And now this, the best news of all, finding out that Chase was Loren’s twin.  That Elizabeth, who he loved more than his life, was the mother of both of his children. 

The pain in his head, which was growing increasingly worse, reminded him that there was still much more to remember.  It seemed that the pain was always worse just before he remembered something.  He pulled away from Elizabeth suddenly and put the palms of his hands against his forehead.  “Lucky, are you okay?”

“Yea, I think so. It’s just a headache.  I just need to get some sleep.”

At that moment Chase and Loren came running in from the kitchen, with Lulu close behind.  Elizabeth fought back her tears when she looked at Chase, and said.  “Chase, sweetie, can you come here for a minute?”

He ran to her and she scooped him up in her arms, hugging him tightly against her chest for a moment, thanking God that he was her child, that she would never have to be separated from him again.  She finally looked down at him.  “Chase, your daddy isn’t feeling well, and I think we need to take him home so he can get some rest.  Is that okay with you?  You and Loren can come back tomorrow and play with Lulu, okay?”

“Elizabeth?  Why don’t you just let them stay here tonight?  You and Lucky have a lot to talk about.”

She didn’t want to be away from either of her children, not even for one night, but she knew Lucky needed to sleep, and that it would be good for them to have some time to spend alone.  Lucky had dealt with so much today.  She looked at Lucky, who nodded his approval, and reluctantly she said, “Okay.  But I’ll be here to get them first thing in the morning.”

Luke nodded.  “And I’ll be paying a visit to Stefan Cassadine first thing in the morning, with my good friend Bubba Scorpio at my side.”

 

Lucky lay on the couch with an ice pack on his forehead.  He had removed his shirt, leaving only his jeans on, after Elizabeth had finally gone upstairs to bed.  He hadn’t really wanted her to go, but because it had been an emotional day for both of them, he insisted that she needed to sleep, too.  When they had returned to her house, she had gotten him aspirin and the ice pack, and sat down on the couch beside him.  She reached up and ran her hand through his hair.  “Do you feel like talking?”

He looked deeply into her eyes and shook his head.  “I just want to be with you, like this, to hold you.”

So she had moved into his arms and stayed there until she began to doze.  He had shaken her gently, and said.  “Elizabeth. You should go upstairs and get some sleep.”

“I want to stay with you.”

And I want you to stay with me, he thought.  I want nothing more than for you to stay with me so I can hold you and make love to you all night.  But it was too soon for that.  He didn’t want to rush her and he didn’t trust himself to be this close to her.  He needed to remember first.  God, how he needed to remember his life with her.  She was so beautiful and he loved her so much now.  How could he not remember her?  How was that possible if they had loved each other so much?  He put his hand on the side of her face.  “You need to get good rest, in your own bed.  Please, for me?”

She had reluctantly gone upstairs then, leaving him to toss and turn on the couch, knowing that sleep would never come as long as he kept thinking about her lying upstairs alone in her bed, so beautiful, so desirable.  Sometime later, he did doze, but awoke again in a cold sweat, his heart pounding, just as he had so many times in the past weeks since coming to Port Charles.  He sat on the edge of the couch with his head in his hands as he remembered the dream.  It was a different dream than before.  He was in a park, there was snow on the ground and Elizabeth was crawling out of the bushes, bruised and bloody, her eyes wild, frantic, terrified.  He stood up and paced the room, trying to remember the rest of the dream.  He came to rest by the window and his eyes fell on a picture of Elizabeth with a blonde girl.  He picked up the picture, staring at it in disbelief.  The blonde girl was the girl in his other dreams.  His mind was racing.  Sarah.  Sarah.  A Valentine’s Day dance.  He had gone to the dance with this girl.  Elizabeth’s sister.  He ran his hand through his hair as he tried to remember…something about that night, something that hadn’t been right.  He thought of the dream, of Elizabeth and how she looked and the reality of what had happened brought him to his knees.

He remembered all of it, taking Elizabeth to his parent’s house, his Aunt Bobbie coming to help.  He remembered the days after when he would knock on Elizabeth’s door, wanting so desperately to help her, but she would never answer.  He remembered the horror as he realized what happened to her, the pain of her finally admitting to him that she had been raped.  He wept into his hands as he remembered the weeks and months after the rape, the nights he had spent sleeping on her floor, the days they spent living on the street, the days and nights in the boxcar.  The boxcar.  Where he had spent the best summer of his life.  The summer he fell in love with Elizabeth.

He needed to be with her now.  He needed to tell her that he remembered everything, that he remembered loving her, that he loved her now more than he could ever have dreamed possible.  He slowly and quietly made his way up the stairs.  Her door was open.  He stopped in the doorway and saw her sitting in the window seat, her knees drawn up to her chest, staring out the window at the rain that had begun to fall.  He whispered her name.  “Elizabeth.”

She looked up at him and said quietly.  “I want you to make love to me, Lucky.  I need you to make love to me.”

He went to her then, and knelt in front of her, taking her hands in his two.  She looked down at him and in the moonlight she saw his tears.  “What is it, Lucky?”

“I remember.  I remember all of it.  I remember the night in the park, and all the nights after that.”  He put his hands on her face, in her hair as the tears spilled down his face.  “I remember loving you, Elizabeth.”

She leaned down and placed her lips against his.  Their kiss was soft, gentle, at first, but soon became more desperate, as his tongue sought hers and he pulled her closer to him so that her legs were wrapped around his waist.  He pulled away and slowly unbuttoned her nightshirt, pushing the fabric away to reveal her breasts.  He looked at her, his hands gently caressing her shoulders, as he whispered.  “You’re so beautiful, Elizabeth.   I love you. God, how I love you”

“I love you, too, Lucky.  I’ve never stopped loving you.”

“Let me show you how much I love you.”

She whispered, “Yes, please, “ against his mouth as he stood up and pulled her up with him, her legs still wrapped tightly around his waist and her arms around his neck.  He carried her to the bed and gently laid her back on the pillows. He removed his jeans and laid down beside her, pulling her naked body against his, as she whispered, “Welcome home, Lucky.”

 

Stolen Memories

Chapter 22

 

 

            There was the thrill of feeling her naked body against his again, so warm and soft and receptive to his touch.  There was the thrill of her lips against his, her tongue seeking his, the feel of her hands on him, as light as a feather.  There was the thrill being inside her again, being one with her again, after all he had been through, alfter all he had finally remembered.  But none of these things could compare with the thrill of looking into her eyes and seeing the depth of her love for him, and remembering, finally, the depth of his love for her.  And there was the thrill of the knowledge that her love for him had never wavered during the time he had been away. 

            They lay on the bed together, bodies entwined after making love, each lost in their own thoughts, their own memories of all the times in they had made love in the past.  Lucky was perched above Elizabeth, his hands in her hair as he looked into her eyes.  She traced every inch of his face, as if attempting to memorize every line.  He gathered her in his arms, and she felt his wet tears on her neck as he laid his head on her shoulder.   "Lucky?  What is it?"

            Finally he raised up to look at her again and whispered.  "There are no words, Elizabeth.  No words for what I feel for you."

            "We don't need words, Lucky.  We never have."

            He kissed her gently on the lips.  "Do you know that I've dreamt about you nearly every night since I've been gone?"

            "You have?"

            He nodded.  "I just didn't know it was you.  I still don't understand why it took me so long to remember you.  I should have remembered you the minute I first saw you."

            "It doesn't matter now.  Besides I'm a patient girl.  I always knew you would remember me.  I would have waited forever for you, Lucky."

            "God, what did I ever do to deserve you?"

            "You loved me.  You just loved me."

            She put her hands on his face and kissed him on the lips, softly at first, until their kisses became more desperate.  They had made love their first time after so long slowly, gently, savoring each moment, neither wanting to be apart from the other for even a moment.  This time was different.  There was more urgency, more passion, they simply could not get enough of each other.  One hand was on her breast, kneading it, as the other reached down and to guide himself inside her again.  He pulled her up to him and turned them over so that he was lying on his back and she was straddling him, the way she had done so many times in the past, the way they both loved.  She leaned over him, teasing him with her hair, letting it just graze his chest before she pulled her head back up and away from him.  She took his hands in both of hers, their fingers entwined as she pressed them back on the bed and she began to slowly rock back and forth on him, kissing him hungrily on his mouth. 

            "I've dreamed about this so many times, Elizabeth.  So many times."

            "Me too, baby, me too.  I love you, Lucky.  Let me make love to you.  Let me help you forget all those years we were apart."

            When at last Elizabeth collapsed on top of him and their breathing returned to normal, Elizabeth raised up a little and he caught the hair at the back of her head in his hand.  "I promise you I'll never leave you again, Elizabeth.  I'll never let anyone hurt us again."

            She laid her head on his chest and listened to the sound of his heartbeat as it returned to normal, and they were both asleep..     

 

            When Elizabeth awoke there was sunlight streaming in the window.  "Look what you brought...the sun."

            He laughed.  "I think we did that together.  I have a great idea. I think we should stay in bed all day.  What do you think?"

            "I think I like the sound of that.  But what about Chase and Loren?"

            "They'll be fine.  We can pick them up later today."

            She smiled.  "You're still just as persuasive as you used to be.  That has definitely not changed."

            "Good.  I'm going to go get us something to eat.  We're going to need to keep our strength up you know."

            "Let me..."

            "No, you stay right here.  I'll be back in just a few minutes."

            "Lucky..."

            He smiled as he got out of bed.  "Trust me.  Just a few minutes."

            She watched as he pulled on his jeans and headed for the door.  "Lucky..."

            He turned back and went to her, kissing her on the mouth, his tongue seeking hers.  "Hold that thought."

            "Oh, don't you worry."  She let out a deep, satisfied sigh, and laughed as she snuggled down in the bed and he left the room.

 

            He was in the kitchen when he heard the doorbell.  He yelled up to Elizabeth that he would answer it.  When he opened the door, he saw a man, perhaps a year or so older than he, taller, darker, and he recognized his face as the one he had seen in the picture on the mantle at his parents house.

            Lucky could see that the man was overcome with emotion.  "Can I help you?"

            "Hi Lucky.  It's me, Nikolas."

            "Nikolas?"  Lucky ran his hand through his hair and looked at him, confused.  He thought he had remembered everything, everyone, but he did not know the man standing before him.  "I'm sorry.  I don't remember you.  I'm really sorry."

            "I'm not surprised you know.  After all, we did have our differences in the beginning.  In fact you damn near tried to kill me once.  Pushed me down the steps at your house."

            Lucky looked at him in disbelief.  He considered himself a non-violent person and could not fathom having done such a thing.  "I tried to kill you?"

            Nikolas laughed softly.  "I don't think you really meant to kill me, or even push me for that matter.  It was just that quick Spencer temper of yours reacting to something that had happened.  At least that's how I prefer to remember it."

            "And you don't hate me for it?."

            "I never hated you, Lucky. You used to think I did, but I never did.  I was always in awe of you.  You had everything I ever wanted.  A family, security, continuity, lots of people who loved you.  We just didn't get off to a very good start, that's all.  But we got over all that animosity a long time ago.  It was after we helped Emily Quartermaine with a problem she was having....do you remember her?"

             It was then that he noticed the woman from the day care center where Elizabeth worked, standing beside him.  She walked into the living ahead of him.  "Well, of course he remembers me, Nikolas.  We lived together for weeks in the desert when we were teenagers and ran away from home."  She looked hopefully at Lucky. "You DO remember me, right?  Please tell me you do."

            Lucky stared at her, his eyes wide at the sight of the woman standing before him.  "Emily, my God....look at you.  I mean, I've seen you at the day care center, but I didn't know it was you then.  My god...you're beautiful.  I mean, not that you weren't always, but..."

            She laughed and looked at Nikolas.  "See, I told you he would remember me.  It's you he can't remember.  And it's no wonder.  You made his life a living hell for a long time.  But he'll remember you.  Just give him time."

            "Emily, I just can't get over how much you've changed....how much you've grown up."

            "I guess I have grown up since I saw you last haven't I?  But I'm still the same girl who had a mad crush on you and was half in love with you all those years ago.  I'm married now and I'm going to have a baby.  With this guy."  She motioned toward Nikolas.  "He really is a good guy, Lucky.  A sweetheart, like you.  I hope you'll remember the part of him that loves you and has missed you more than you'll ever know, like I have."

            Lucky was searching his memory, trying to remember something, anything about this man who stood before him, this man who Emily said loved him and had missed him.  He could not conjure up one memory of him. 

            Emily watched him for a minute and finally said, "Now, come here and give me a hug.  It's been way too long since we've seen each other."

            Lucky pulled her to him and held her for a long minute.  When she pulled away and looked up into his eyes she wiped a tear from his cheek.

            "I'm sorry.  I just..."

            "I know, Lucky.  It must be overwhelming for you, remembering everybody and everything.  It really is a miracle you know, that you're back here with us.  So many people love you and have missed you.  I think we should have a big welcome home party for you."

            Lucky laughed.  "I don't know if I'm ready for that just yet, but I'll keep it in mind, okay?"

            "Deal.  Now where is Elizabeth?   I need to leave you two alone to get reacquainted."

            "She's upstairs in the bedroom. You can go on up."

            Emily went upstairs and Lucky turned back to Nikolas.  He rubbed his eyes with his fingertips.  "I'm sorry."

            Nikolas shook his head.  "No need to feel sorry.  You'll remember in time.  Maybe some of my memories will help.  I remember the day I finally knew that things were going to be okay with us.  I came by your apartment and asked if I could camp out on your floor for a few days.  I'd had an argument with my father and I needed someplace to stay, and you said yes.  Do you remember your apartment over the garage?"

            Lucky nodded and closed his eyes.  He was getting an image of Nikolas sitting on his bed with Lulu.  Elizabeth was taking their picture.  He remembered he and Nikolas giving Laura a gift, the picture of them with Lulu that he had seen on the mantle. 

            "I remember something about a picture of you and me with Lulu.  We gave it to my mother..."  Lucky felt the pain starting in his head again, and he put his hands to his temples, rubbing them.  He looked at Nikolas then and spoke in a whisper.   "It was our mother.  We gave the picture to our mother."

            NIkolas began nodding his head, tears welling in his eyes.  "Yes, Lucky.  Our mother.  You remember?"

            Lucky nodded, tears streaming down his face as Nikolas moved toward him and said, "Welcome home, Lucky."  They embraced warmly as Elizabeth and Emily came down the steps.

            "Praise Allah, I think he remembers!!!"

            Lucky pulled away from Nikolas and laughed.  "Yea, I remember.  It didn't take much, just the mention of that old apartment I used to live in over Jason's garage.  I remembered the day we took the pictures with Lulu and gave them to my....to our mother." 

            Elizabeth went to him and put her arm around him.  "It's so good to see you laugh."

            "It feels good.  It feels like I finally have a reason to laugh, to be happy.  Life is looking pretty sweet to me right about now. I have my beautiful wife back, I have a daughter I never knew I had, and my whole family is back in Port Charles with me.  What more could a man ask for?  And the best part is that Elizabeth is Chase's mother."

            NIkolas looked at Lucky, confused.  "I don't understand."

            Emily could no longer contain herself.  "Nikolas, Chase and Loren are twins.  Elizabeth just told me.  Isn't that wonderful?"

            "It's the best news I've heard since you came back to town.  But twins?  How?  I mean..."

            "It seems pretty complicated right now and we aren't really sure how it all played out.  But your father was involved somehow.  I remember him from when I was gone.  He was a big part of my life for awhile."

            "My father?  You mean he kidnapped you and Chase?"

            "It looks that way.  My dad is going over there to see him today and taking the police with him.  I'm sorry."

            Nikolas waved his hand.  "I don't see my father anymore, at least not if I don't have to.  At this point nothing he did or will do would surprise me.  I'm just glad to have you back, and if he was at all responsible for your absence all these years then he needs to pay for it.  Lucky, you never lied to me, not once.  I don't really think you would know how to lie.  My father has done nothing but lie to me my whole life.  So don't feel bad about taking him down.  He deserves whatever he gets."

            Lucky nodded and pulled Elizabeth close and she said,   "I want to go get Chase and Loren.  Is that okay?"

            He smiled.  "It's more than okay, Elizabeth.  Will you two come with us?  I want my whole family to be together today."  He started toward the door.

            Nikolas laughed.  "Well, it would probably be a good idea if you put some clothes on first.  It's kind of cold outside to be going without a shirt."

            They all laughed as Lucky ran upstairs to get dressed.  Elizabeth watched him go and finally turned to Nikolas and Emily, tears welling in her eyes. "I don't think I've ever been so happy in my life.  And I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure nothing bad ever happens to us again."