Hello all! Just a few things, I've been writing this awhile and just recently got coerced...I mean, encouraged...to post it. I've done a lot of writing before, but this is my first Lante fic. It's kind of AU, but some things are the same. If it gets confusing, ask! Anyway I hope you like it! It's posted on some Lante boards, so the first two chapters are going up together, after that, it won't be like that.

Come Around

Chapter 1

Port Charles Preparatory (January 12)

"Come on guys, you're late for school, I'm going to be late for my meeting with Aunt Maxie and Federico, so we have to hurry," 28-year-old Lulu Zacchara told her 7-year-old twins, Lexi and Tanner, as she attempted to run through the parking lot in her heels while holding her children's hands.

"Mama, I forgot my lunch box," Lexi said stopping dead in her tracks.

"Well, I'll go back to the car and get it," Lulu replied, pulling the two kids onto the curb and sitting them on a bench. "You two stay right here and don't move."

"No, I left it at home," Lexi whined.

Lulu let out a sigh, "I'll give the lunch money to your teacher," She reached for their hands. "Let's go."

She took a few steps before stepping onto a patch of ice and landing on the ground, "Damn it," she cursed, both children let out gasps.

"You said a bad wordddddddd," Tanner cried out.

"I know, I'm sorry honey," Lulu said to her son. "This has just been a bad day for us."

When 29-year-old Dante Falconeri got up that morning, he had not planned on bringing his one-month-old daughter out into the cold, especially since it had snowed some the night before. He had also not planned on his 7-year-old son missing the bus. He had hoped he would be able to pick the house up a little before their nanny arrived and he had to go to work.

When he pulled into the parking lot, he had saw one last 10-minute drop-off/pick-up parking spot left. However, by the time he got there, someone in a white SUV had already parked there.

Dante let out a loud groan, driving to the end of the parking lot where there were a few empty spaces, "Bridger, unbuckle your seat belt and get your backpack and when we get out, you need to stay right next to me so you don't get out in front of a car."

Dante opened the truck door and let Bridger out before placing a third blanket on top of his daughter's car seat.

"I'm sorry I made us late, Dad," Bridger said, knowing he missed the bus because he was playing his video game when Dante was telling him to get ready for school.

"It's not your fault, Bridge," he told him. "I should have been making sure you were actually getting ready."

They started toward the school, he was holding Bridger's hand and had the carrier in the other hand. That's when he heard what sounded like someone falling on ice and he looked up just in time to hear the curse word coming from her mouth. He picked up the pace, hurrying to help the woman with her two children.

"Do you need some help?" she heard a masculine voice ask

Lulu looked up to see a dark-haired, brown-eyed man holding a baby in his arms and a small boy by the hand, "Um, yeah, thanks," She said as he reached out to help her off the ground.

God, he's beautiful. Wait…he's probably married, I shouldn't even think like that.

"I'm Dante," He said

Hello gorgeous. Too bad she's probably married.

"Lulu," She smiled before letting go of his hand.

"Hi Bridger," Tanner said to the little boy.

"Hi," Bridger replied happily. "Dad, I'm cold, can we go inside now?"

Dante and Lulu locked eyes for a short moment, "Yeah, I need to get them inside too, it's cold out here," Lulu told him before trying to walk, but limping.

"I don't think that's going to happen," Dante said as he moved to help her.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Lulu replied as she winced in pain.

"Are you okay Mama?" Lexi questioned, taking her mother by the hand, genuinely worried that she was truly hurt.

"Yeah honey," She tried to take another step, but couldn't and let out a cry of pain instead.

"Okay, let me take your kids, I think Bridger and your son are in the same class, and your daughter's class is in—," Dante assisted Lulu to the bench that was on the sidewalk in front of the school.

"Ms. Green's first grade class," Lulu finished for him.

"I can show you," Lexi grinned up at him, the girl never met a stranger.

"Okay," He began. "I'll take them in and then I'll drive you to the hospital."

"No, that's not necessary," Lulu told him, shaking her head. "I have a meeting I need to get to."

"Your ankle could be broken, you probably can't even drive," Dante replied

"You have to hold my hand," Lexi told him

"But he's holding my hand, he can't hold hands with a girl!" Bridger exclaimed

Dante wasn't sure what to say, he looked from Bridger to Lexi to the baby wrapped in blankets in the carrier, then he looked to Lulu, "Would you mind holding her while I take them inside?" He asked

Lulu hesitated for a moment, then looked to her own children who this man was graciously offering to take them into the school, "I don't mind," Lulu replied. "What's her name?"

"Mia," Dante smiled, handing the carrier to her.

"Hi Mia," Lulu cooed at the little girl.

Once inside, Bridger and Tanner ran to their first grade classroom while Lexi pulled Dante toward hers, "Mr. Falconeri," The teacher was standing at the door when they walked up, then she looked to Lexi. "With Miss Zacchara."

"Yeah, her mom asked me to bring her in," Dante said as Lexi stopped dead in her tracks and refused to move.

"Come on Lexi, let's get into class," Ms. Green said to the girl, but Lexi just shook her head as she looked to the ground.

"What's wrong?" Dante asked squatting down to the little girl's eye level.

"I didn't bring my lunch and Mama forgot to give me lunch money," Dante let out a sigh of relief, he pulled his wallet from is back pocket, he handed a ten-dollar bill to the teacher, then leaned back down to Lexi. "There, it's taken care of."

"Thank you," Lexi smiled politely before running into the classroom and pulling off her coat.

When Dante returned to where he left that gorgeous blonde with his beautiful baby girl, Lulu was talking to baby Mia who was contently watching her.

"Okay…" He clapped his hands together, "let's get you to the hospital."

"I told you I would be okay," Lulu replied, looking up to him.

"Oh really?" he knelt down to look at her ankle, then he squeezed it.

"Ow!" Lulu shouted, shooting him a dirty look

"Yeah, that's what I thought," He said

Lulu let out a sigh and rolled her eyes, "Fine."

"Okay, let me get Mia back into her car seat and then I'll pull around to help you to the car." Dante told her

Once he pulled around in a black truck, Lulu had pulled off her deep purple Christian Louboutin loafer pump. He got out of the truck as Lulu stood up.

"No, you can barely even take one step," He stopped her and picked her up off the ground, and carried her to the truck, then went around to the driver's side and got in.

"I really appreciate this, I have a really bad habit of being stubborn," Lulu told him as they started out of the parking lot.

It's okay, my ex is the same way. He thought to himself then replied with, "Is there anyone you need to call, maybe your husband or someone?"

"Oh no, my husband passed away, um, five years ago…" She paused, "today actually."

"Oh I'm so sorry," Dante said, now not sure what to say.

"I do need to call my cousin though and let her know I can't make the meeting," Lulu replied, pulling her phone from her purse.

"Lulu, where are you?" Carly answered the phone.

"Tell her to get down here now, this is important," She heard Maxie in the background.

"I can't make it, I-I'm on my way to the hospital," Lulu replied

"What, why?" Carly asked, "Are you okay? Is it Lexi or Tanner?"

"No, the kids are fine…" Lulu told her, "I—on the other hand—hurt my ankle when I was taking them to school this morning."

"Do you need me to come down to GH?" Carly questioned

"No, I'll be fine," Lulu replied, then looked quickly at Dante, "I have a friend taking me, so I'll be in as soon as I can, tell Federico I'm sorry I couldn't make it, and tell Maxie to go ahead with the designs."

After the untimely death of Kate Howard-Corinthos in 2009, Crimson Magazine was left to Jasper Jacks, who was co-owner. He put Maxie Jones and Lulu Spencer in charge of the magazine and when he saw they were fully devoted to the magazine and the company, he made a beyond generous offer to sell his shares to Lulu and Maxie.

Carly sighed, "Alright, other than your ankle, are you okay?" She asked

Lulu knew she remembered the anniversary of Johnny's death, it was something Carly never forgot, "Yeah, we had a rough start this morning, and even though the kids don't know, they were both having a terrible day, it just seemed like everything went wrong this morning," She replied

"Well, hopefully it will get better, if you get out of the ER early enough, you should come have lunch with Maxie and me," Carly suggested

"Okay, I'll try, but I'm not making any promises, with the luck I'm having today, it may be best I stay away from the Metro Court," Lulu replied

"No, no, no," Carly said, "You come down here, just call me when you leave GH and let us know when you're headed over."

"Okay, I will," Lulu replied, "Don't forget to tell Maxie that I'm sorry."

"Honey, she understands," Carly told her

"Well, I feel terrible about it," Lulu said, "Today is a big day."

"Just make it up to us by coming by at least see us later," Maxie added in the background.

"Okay, I'll be by later," Lulu said, "Bye."

"Bye," Carly replied before shutting her phone, then turning to Maxie.

"I thought that keeping her busy today would be a good thing," Maxie admitted

"I think she did too, but it's just hard with this being the day Johnny died," Carly replied

"It's understandable, I would probably never get over it if I lost Spinelli and we're not even married yet," Maxie said

"Well, I think she still kicks herself over the time she wasted hating him when she was forced into that marriage to save him," Carly told her.

-
So please let me know what you think so far? Do you think I should continue?