Author's Note:

I am still planning on continuing Taking Chances, don't worry! But with everything happening right now on GH, this idea popped in my head and has refused to leave! This is not going to be a super-long fic, but at least a few chapters. I have a definite plan. :)

I own nothing except for the thoughts in my mind. Characters belong to General Hospital. Please excuse any mistakes with French culture or language, as I am simply using my best friend Google.

Hope you enjoy!

She felt shattered. It wasn't merely her heart that was broken this time. It was her soul. It was her body. Every muscle ached. Every nerve ending screamed. Her head was pounding, her throat raw from crying. If there was a way out of this right now, she'd take it. If there was a way to get rid of the pain, she didn't know it.

All she knew was the searing agony. The despair and the loneliness. And she knew she had to get away.

She took another long drink and silently begged for oblivion.

6 MONTHS LATER

Lulu Spencer tapped a fingernail on her desk as she waited for the call to go through. She smiled as the perky voice of her best friend invited her to leave a message, but only if she had something productive to say. Maxie Jones' voice turned firm as she reminded the caller of one of her biggest pet peeves.

My phone is equipped with caller ID. Leaving a message purely to request a call back is redundant. And annoying. Ciao!

Lulu laughed, as she always did when she heard the message.

"Maxie, it's me," she said, swiveling her chair to face the window of her tastefully decorated office. "Thought you might be interested in hearing who I landed for next month's cover." Lulu examined her fingernails and smiled triumphantly. "Three hints. Starred in last year's Oscar-winning film. Out of rehab less than 2 weeks ago. And has not given a single interview since her divorce became final and addiction became public," Lulu paused for effect. "And yours truly happened to sign her for an exclusive article and photo shoot." Lulu turned back at the knock on her office door, and waved in the woman who stood holding a large file.

"Now, I know at this point you're ready to kick yourself for not being the one in Paris right now," she continued with a grin and a wink for the woman who was walking over to the desk. "But as co-editors in chief, I feel we can both share in this victory. Even if it was my powers of persuasion and compassion that convinced her to sign. Ciao yourself, darling!"

Lulu dropped the phone and whirled up and out of her chair to throw her arms around the other woman, who hugged her back tightly before pulling away, keeping her hands at Lulu's shoulders.

"I'm so proud of you!" she beamed, and Lulu grinned back.

"Thanks, Mom," Lulu grinned back. "I'm feeling pretty proud of myself right about now." She picked up the file that Laura Spencer had dropped on desk, but didn't open it immediately. "I couldn't have done it without you," she said seriously.

Laura waved the words away with her hand. "Don't be silly. You would have caught up with her eventually. I just happened to share a fondness for crepes at the same café as our star. You did all the hard work."

"Well," Lulu said, squeezing her mother's hand, "it was a combined effort. And we are celebrating tonight! Madeline," she called out. "Can you make a reservation before you leave for the day?"

Lulu's assistant stepped into the office grinning. Both women stood in front of her, with identical smiles and hair shades. She had only known Lulu and Laura Spencer for about 6 months, but had come to love them both. There was nothing she wouldn't do for Lulu. And she felt the same loyalty toward her boss's mother. The woman was a marketing genius, and one of the sweetest women Madeline had ever met.

"Absolutely!" Madeline drew out her notebook. "L'Arc?" she suggested.

"Perfect. Can you join us?" Lulu asked. Madeline was efficient and friendly, and had overcome an almost debilitating level of shyness to become one of Lulu's most trusted staff members. Lulu adored her. Madeline was only a few years younger than Lulu, but Lulu felt almost maternal toward her.

"No, I apologize," Madeline grimaced. "My family is visiting this week. I must meet them and we have plans for dinner already."

Lulu made a face. "Next time, then," she offered. "After all, you deserve to celebrate too! Take off after you make the call, Maddy. Thanks for everything."

Lulu turned back to her mother. "I may have an entire bottle of champagne tonight," she declared, grinning.

"Cheers!" Lulu sang as she stumbled her way out of the restaurant. A group of young British men patted hands over their hearts as they watched her walk away. Her coat was slung over her arm, leaving her arms bare to the cool night air. Dressed in a short, strapless silk dress, she wound a scarf around her neck instead of tugging on the coat. A breeze picked up, and the group of men groaned as her skirt fluttered tantalizingly high on her legs. Lulu, feeling generous, blew them a kiss, laughing as one of them yelled out his phone number.

Laura giggled. "Well, young lady, I certainly didn't expect you to follow through," she hiccupped. "Two bottles of Dom Perignon! And you should be ashamed for dragging your mother along with you."

Lulu put an arm around Laura's shoulders as they walked together toward the limo that was waiting. "Mom, you held up beautifully," she stated. Her eyes were bright but clear, and her skin just a bit flushed from the wine. Her blonde hair was curled, and she kept it long because she never knew what she might be in the mood for. Short was just…short. At least when it was long she had options. Something she'd spent a lot of time thinking about these past few months was options. And she had learned to leave hers open.

Lulu fought off the wave of sadness that threatened to creep over her. Tonight was not a night for regrets, she reprimanded herself. She started to dig in her purse for a mint, and caught her heel on a crack in the sidewalk, twisting her ankle slightly. "Damn," she said, wincing. "I just bought these," she muttered, bending one knee behind her to try to make sure the heel wasn't broken or scratched. Leaning down, she missed the flash of light from across the street and the figure of the person who sank back into shadows before she straightened.

Laura shook her head and helped her daughter into the waiting car. "Sweetheart, why don't you come back to my house?" she offered, resting a hand on the limo door as the world tilted slightly. "I hate the thought of you going to that big empty flat. And I think we've had too much to drink," she added, as she stumbled off the curb herself.

Lulu smiled affectionately at Laura. "That was the point, wasn't it?" she giggled. "And anyway, I love that big empty flat. I love to walk around it. It's the first place I've ever had all to myself, you know?"

Laura nodded and leaned her head against the back of seat. "But-"

"I'm fine, Mom," Lulu assured her. "And there's a carton of ice cream in my freezer desperately calling my name. If I don't go home he'll be very disappointed." She reached over and hugged Laura tightly though. How wonderful it was to have her mother so close. Close enough to work with, to get a little tipsy with. Closing her eyes, she breathed in her mother's hair. Just to have her at all was nothing short of a miracle. As the limo pulled to a stop, she let go and kissed Laura's cheek.

"I love you, Mom," she said simply, and Laura rested a hand over her daughter's hair for a moment before she stepped out of the car. "Love you too, baby," she smiled.

After Laura was safely inside, Lulu settled back in her seat and gave the driver the signal to go ahead.

Neither of them noticed the black sedan across the street that pulled away from the curb and followed.