I promise to update my other stories this weekend. The current s/l has been playing havoc with my emotions and so I decided to write a one-shot about it, only to realize that my one-shot idea was turning into dozens of pages. This probably won't be more than a few chapters, because I don't see it lasting past the Christmas holiday (hence the title) but hope you enjoy, nonetheless.
Under the Mistletoe
Current S/L featuring Lante and Luke/Tracy Winter Solstice Wedding
Lante have separated after fall-out from Carly/Spin revenge plot. Luke/Tracy are getting married on the anniversary of Laura's birthday. Tracy secretly likes Dante, realizing that he isn't anything like Sonny after all and schemes with her fiancee to bring the two lovebirds back together. Meanwhile, Lulu has reluctantly agreed with Luke/Tracy's plan to marry on her mother's birthday, not knowing that a surprise guest could change everything. Will Luke/Tracy get married? Is it too late for Dante to earn Lulu's forgiveness? Will Lulu risk her heart for a second chance of love with Dante?
Sunday, Dec. 19th
"Hey brother," Coleman said to Dante Falconeri as he entered Jake's and took a seat at the bar, "What'll it be?"
"Two Bismarks," Dante told Coleman, running his hands through his disheveled brown hair, as Coleman slid the beers across the bar.
"How's it hanging?" Coleman said, with elbows resting on the bar and ears perked and ready to listen.
Dante just shrugged his shoulders, taking a swig of the beer and ignoring the question. It wasn't that he was trying to be rude, he just didn't know the answer. It had been nearly four weeks since the Metro Court party and the moment that his life had shattered before his very eyes.
He should have seen it coming. For months all of the signs had been in place, like freaking neon billboards. Yet, still he was broad-sided, completely unprepared for Carly's outburst, or Lulu's reaction.
He tilted his head back and swallowed the beer, emptying the bottle and placing it on the bar in front of him.
"You look like shit," he heard to his right, turning to see his partner, Detective Ronnie Dimestico and watching as he slid onto a stool beside him.
"I'll just be in the back," Coleman said, setting a beer in front of Ronnie, "Just holler if you need anything."
Ronnie nodded his thanks, watching as his pal, Dante, didn't even look up from the bottle he was nursing.
"It's been nearly a month, pal. When are you going to snap out of it?" Ronnie D told him, grabbing the beer when Dante refused to answer him.
"What the fuck is your problem, Ronnie?" Dante yelled, "Give me my beer."
"Don't you think you've had enough?" Ronnie said, looking at Dante's mussed-up hair and his unshaven face, "You've been drinking every day for weeks. Your Ma is worried. Jesus, did you even shower today, pal?"
"Fuck you," Dante replied standing, and grabbing the beer from the bar. He turned and walked toward the jukebox, memories of his first visit to Jake's bombarding his mind.
He could picture her with that floral top of hers, standing with her back to him. He smiled thinking of how her face was probably locked deep in concentration, as she had reviewed the selections.
From the moment that she walked into Jake's, she had stolen his breath. The way that she seemed to glide across the floor in slow motion, the swing of her hips and her amazing curves.
But, it was those hazel eyes of hers that ultimately did him in. Challenged him, flared with mirth and sparked with anger. Everything about them had set him on fire, he thought, as his hand brushed over the jukebox glass.
"The Commish wants you back tomorrow," Ronnie told him, as Dante glared back at him.
"I quit, remember," Dante answered, with an accusatory tone.
"Funny thing about that, pal. I don't seem to recall where the paperwork went," Ronnie replied, with a grin, "Get your ass together, pal. I can't hold the Commish off forever. You worked too hard to just flush everything down the toilet."
"Why not? I did it with Lulu," Dante answered, leaning down and placing his forehead against the jukebox, "She was the one bright light in my life, Ronnie. The one good thing that came out of getting shot and finding out that Sonny was my father."
"Then, pull yourself together, Dante. Stop acting like an ass."
"How? She won't answer my calls, Maxie slams the door in my face," Dante answered in frustration.
"Do you love her?" Ronnie shouted, as Dante looked at him dumbstruck.
"Of course I love her. I've never been in love with anyone, like Lulu. But, she won't-"
"Where the hell is my pal? Huh, Dante," Ronnie said, smacking his partner upside his head, "The cocky son of a bitch who wouldn't take no for an answer. Lulu was always telling me how you won her over with your cheesy pick-up lines and your refusal to give up on her. So, why pal are you giving up on her now?"
"I need her, Ronnie. More than I ever thought possible," Dante admitted, a defeated look on his face.
"I know, pal. Now, you do something about that," Ronnie replied, as Claire Walsh entered the bar.
"Hey, gorgeous!" Ronnie told her, his grin spreading across his face," You ready?"
"As ever," Claire answered, directing a concerned look at Dante, "Ronnie's taking me to a Giants football game. We could probably get another ticket. They're playing the Falcons," she told Dante, inviting him.
"The Eagles, Claire. It's Philadelphia, remember? We hate them," he told her, placing his arm around her shoulders and looking back at Dante, "You're welcome to come, pal. My buddy Vinnie could secure another seat. Just say the word."
"No, you guys go ahead. Have fun and try not to get yourselves killed," Dante answered, as Ronnie shrugged his shoulders.
"Hey, I got that covered, pal," Ronnie told Dante, showing him the Eagles shirt hidden under his prized Giants jersey, "Only under dire circumstances, will it be revealed. The damn thing is making my skin crawl. Sure you don't want to come. I could use some backup."
"No, my mind wouldn't be on the game," Dante answered, truthfully.
"Suit yourself, pal. But, Dante you need to snap out of this. Get your girl. If not for you, then do it for me," Ronnie replied, sincerely.
"Aw, honey, that's so sweet. You really do care," Claire interjected, seeing a side of Ronnie that was warm and sincere.
"Hey, it would be a damn shame if all those lovely season tickets of his are wasted next year. I'm telling you pal, if I have to go to opening game without you and our Yankees get off to a bad start. I'm blaming you."
"It warms my heart to see how much I mean to you, pal," Dante answered, with the beginning of a grin.
"You're welcome. Now, are you sure you'll be ok?" Ronnie asked Dante, looking down at the beer in Dante's hand.
"I'll be fine. Go."
"If you're sure, but, Dante remember what I said," Ronnie told him, reluctantly turning his back on Dante and walking with Claire to the exit.
"Hey, Ronnie," Dante said aloud, as Ronnie glanced back.
"Yo. What is it, pal?"
"Thanks," Dante answered.
"Anytime, bro," Ronnie answered.
Dante watched them leave Jake's, his eyes focused on their retreating backs until they had disappeared all together.
The Giants, Dante thought, turning toward the jukebox and wondering how it was even possible that he had forgotten they were playing today. When was the last time that he had watched a single game? Or, even thought about the Yankees lineup or spring training for next year. He smiled, his mind switching to an image of Lulu in one of his dark shirts, baseball bat in hand, as she hit a pair of balled-up socks. She had this silly grin on her face, like she had hit a home-run. His heart swelled at the image, his anger rising, as he thought of what he had lost.
Gripping his hands into a fist, he slammed them atop the jukebox, his tears threatening to break free. He finished the beer in one gulp, yelling to Coleman that he was leaving, as he slapped a twenty on the bar and grabbed his brown leather jacket.
Stepping outside, the cold wind hit him like a slap in the face, snapping him out of whatever delirious state he was in. Was Ronnie right? Did he stand a chance of winning Lulu back? Did he even deserve her at this point? So many words had been said on both sides and the look of pain in her eyes- it was something that Dante would never forget. The fact that he had caused it was like a knife to his gut, twisting and turning.
When he had arrived in Port Charles, nearly a year and a half ago, he was cocky as hell. His sole purpose to take down Sonny Corrinthos. He was determined, stubborn to a fault and completely focused on his task. That had all changed when he walked into Jake's that night. Hell, his whole life had done a complete 180. Nothing was ever the same and nothing ever would be. Not without Lulu. If he had the slightest chance-
Dante pulled his jacket tighter, clutching it against him, as he braced himself, trying to block the bitter cold. If he had any hope of getting Lulu back, he knew where he had to go first. He dreaded it, with every bone in his body. But, she was worth it. Lulu was the light in a dark tunnel, more valuable than any Yankees pennant. She made him smile, and caused his heart to skip a beat. He loved her. He wanted and needed her so desperately. He only prayed that she still felt the same way.
"Cupcake, what a nice surprise!" Luke exclaimed, walking into the living room of the Quartermaine Mansion and finding Lulu sitting on the couch.
"Hey, Dad," Lulu Spencer answered, in a monotone voice, completely void of any sign of happiness.
"Who are you and where is my daughter?" Luke asked, "This is your favorite time of year. Why aren't you decorating the house, or doing last minute holiday shopping? Is it the wedding?"
"I'm not really into shopping, Dad. And it's not about you and Tracy. I'm really happy for you," Lulu told him, as he raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, I know that I was stunned when you chose Mom's birthday to get married, floored really. But, you've been over for a long time now and I genuinely like Tracy. But, I would be lying if I said that a part of me doesn't feel betrayed that you're doing this on Mom's birthday. I always hoped that you and Mom would find your way back to each other. But, that kind of love is just in fairy tales. Love is blind. It clouds your common sense. Makes you believe anything. Stupid me, right?"
"Ah, Princess, it warms my heart to hear your pessimism. That's my Spencer girl. But, you can't follow your old man's lead, pumpkin. I am fond of Tracy and yes, I may even love her more than I thought that I ever could."
"Tracy, or her money?" Lulu grinned.
"The millions are an added bonus. But, kidding aside, cupcake, what your mother and I had, well it was one-of-a-kind. I never felt anything for anyone, like I loved your mother. She will always be my soul-mate. When we were together, princess, we were unstoppable. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about what we had, what we could have been."
"I thought that what Dante and I had was special," Lulu answered, with a look of melancholy.
"Cupcake, what I am trying to say is that if you're looking for a perfect Prince, he doesn't exist. Men have faults. Well, most men anyway. Me, I like to think your old man is perfect."
"I never expected Dante to be perfect, Dad. But, I thought that we had something one-of-a-kind. He was so different than anyone I've ever met. I've been through so much. He knew that. He promised that we would be different, Dad. I counted on that. I trusted him. I never believed for a second that he-"
"I know, cupcake," Luke answered, interrupting Lulu and wiping the tears that had fallen onto her cheeks, "But, I think that this has more Carly written all over it, than Dante. Not that I agree with what he did," Luke replied, as Lulu's eyes started to reflect burning embers.
"He lied. He told me that Brenda barely knew him. I understand that we both had a past, Dad. I loved men before, Dante. I didn't expect him to be a monk. But, Brenda? If he had told me, I think that I could have understood. We've gotten to that place in our relationship, but I had to hear about their past from Carly of all people, in front of our friends, Dad. I felt like an idiot. I trusted that what he told me was the truth," Lulu accused, still angry, "Was I supposed to just ignore that? Sweep it under the rug and pretend that it didn't hurt. Because I won't. I can't. I love him so much, Dad. I do. But, if we don't have trust, if I have to wonder why he kept his past from me, his feelings, whatever they may have been, then what do we really have? Maybe he still loves her? What if everything he told me has been a lie? Did he play me, Dad? Was it all one big scam? I didn't think so. No, I know that he loved me. I couldn't have felt what I did, if it weren't true. But, Dad, if he loved me so much, how could he betray me like that?" she sobbed, as Luke took her into his arms.
"Love makes us do crazy things, Lulu. It isn't always rational. Sometimes we lie to protect the ones we love. We get caught up in those lies, until they become truth, and we're simply too afraid to share it with the one we love. We're human, Lulu. We all make mistakes. Your Mom, honey I loved her so much. She was a star plucked from the sky and delivered right into my tainted hands. She was pure and innocent, while I was anything but. Yet, somehow, by some miracle, she loved me. She chose me."
"I didn't want anything to do with Dante, Dad. After you and Mom split up, after Dillon, Logan and Johnny, I had given up. I didn't believe it existed. I was afraid. I didn't want to fall into that trap, let someone inside, love him, only to have him leave me."
"But, you did, Princess. Dante may not be the Prince you imagined when you were a little girl, but you did find him. What you have to figure out, Cupcake, is if he is worth keeping? Can you accept him, faults and all? Your Mom and I, well my recklessness was just too much. We wanted different things. Marriage changed us. Settling down, changed me. We weren't the same starry-eyed kids we were when we first met. I will always love your mother, Lulu. I will always wonder what could have been. Would my life be any different, if we had tried to work it out? It's too late, for your old man? But, Princess, if even for a second you think you could forgive-"
"I love him, Dad, but I can't. It just hurts so much," Lulu told her father, wishing that Dante had just told her the truth from his own lips, saving her the heartache and humiliation of finding out the way she did.
Flashback
"Baby, couldn't we just stay in? I could make us some pasta, open a few beers, we could hang out in bed all evening," Dante suggested, with a wink.
"Dante, we promised. Carly is expecting us," Lulu told him, reaching for a sexy red dress from the closet, and taking it off of the hanger.
"No, you promised. I didn't say anything to Carly. So, what do you say?"
She undressed, taking off her blouse and skirt, until only a sexy black thong and demi-bra remained. It barely covered her breasts, a fact that Dante was too happy to notice.
"You're killing me," Dante groaned, moving behind her, grasping her hips and pressing himself against her. It would be so easy to move the material aside, to take what his body ached for and forget Carly's damn party. He knew that he could use his seductive charms to entice Lulu into bed, drive her to madness with his fingers and watch her shatter beneath him.
"We're going, Dante," Lulu replied, crushing his fantasy, as the red dress slid over her arms and stopped at his hands resting on her hips. He stroked her soft skin, eliciting a moan from Lulu, as her buttocks reacted instinctively, pressing back against him. His hands slid around to the vee in front wanting desperately to make her come, to plunge inside and hear her scream.
"Dante! Carly's party?" Lulu reminded him, as her head rested against his shoulder. He glanced at the clock, they were already late. Dammit.
"Spoilsport," Dante answered, kissing Lulu on the nape of her neck, and moving his hands to the hem of her dress, pulling the material down, molding the fabric against her body. Later, he thought to himself, it would be his body pressing against her, her naked satiny skin against his, no dress between them, "I'm giving Carly two hours, Lulu," Dante told her, turning her toward him, her breasts now pressed against his chest.
Lulu's hands reached for his tie, straightening it, as his hands cupped the sides of her face and his lips brushed hers. His eyes were the richest, deepest brown, his hunger evident with every touch, with every stroke of his fingers and tongue. She moaned, wanting nothing more than to let him strip the clothes from her body and fill her, taking her to the highest peak and then joining her as they fell back to earth together. Damn Carly and her last minute party.
"I'm sorry, honey. I promised. Carly and I are starting to really connect again. She's doing this for Michael. I think it could be really good, don't you?"
"This is Carly we're talking about, Lulu. When has anything that she has ever planned, worked out the way she wanted? And since when is she all buddy, buddy with Brenda? Don't you find it a little odd that she is so supportive of Sonny and Brenda getting back together. The whole party seems out of character for her. She hates Brenda, so why is she throwing a party welcoming her back to PC. Let's not forget that her plans have a way of blowing up in our faces. Remember Brooklynn?" Dante replied, inwardly cringing, as he backed away from Lulu and loosened the tie about his neck.
"Oh joy! Thanks for the reminder," she told him, sarcastically, smiling, as she shook her head, "We've moved past that, Dante. Carly apologized and I really think that she is trying to make amends. She understands that using Brooklynn to get back at you was a bad idea."
"I still don't understand how you can forgive Carly, but I even mention Brooklynn's name and you start spitting fire," Dante grinned, as Lulu glanced back at him with a look of horror.
"That's easy. Carly was hurt. Brooklynn is just a slut."
"She genuinely feels horrible about all of that. Carly is a good person, Dante. I think it's the Spencer blood that makes her do crazy things. Maybe she feels bad about how she treated Brenda and this is her way of making it up to Sonny, just like she is trying to fix what she did to us."
"Carly is not as innocent as you make her out to be, Lulu," Dante answered, "I just get the sinking feeling that she is hiding something."
How right he was, Lulu thought, the memory of that night so fresh in her mind. But, the secret Carly was hiding was Dante and Brenda's. Why didn't he just tell her? Was Carly right? Did Dante sleep with Brenda? He didn't deny it. Brenda didn't either. The knowledge had hit her like a ton of bricks. Hell, she didn't even believe it at first. It was a month later, and she was still stunned by the revelation. A part of her refused to believe it. It went against everything that she knew about Dante, his character, his integrity. If this one lie was in fact true, didn't that negate everything that they had shared all these months. Maybe she never knew Dante at all. Maybe all of his cheesy pick-up lines and his charm were never meant for her and she was just a placeholder, a replacement for the one that slipped through his fingers. For Brenda.
That was the truth that swam around in her head, that occupied her thoughts constantly. She could deal with Dante having a past with Brenda. It hurt, but she could move past it. What she didn't know if she could handle, was if Dante still harbored feelings for Brenda? What if after all this time, after everything that they had been through and shared, he decided that he wanted Brenda? She had been here before, with all of her previous relationships. Ultimately, they betrayed her, choosing someone else, while she was left with nothing but the broken pieces of her heart. She was kidding herself if she thought this was going to turn out any differently. Brenda Barrett was a supermodel. How was Lulu supposed to compete with that?
Somewhere in France
"You're progress is remarkable, Ms. Webber. It truly is." the doctor told her with a French accent, glancing at her chart.
"But-" the woman said softly, standing before him.
"But, I don't think that you are ready. A move like this could set you back drastically. You've come so far. I am just afraid that...well, I am not sure that it's a risk I'm ready to let you take," he told her, concerned.
"Isn't that my decision to make, doctor. I've spent nearly my entire life behind white walls. I missed my children growing up, I lost years with my family. I'm not missing one second more. I checked myself in. I'm ready to check myself out," she told him firmly, hands placed on her hips.
"But, going to Port Charles, do you really think that is wise. So much time has passed. What if everything that you are hoping for is no longer possible? What then?"
"You won't talk me out of this, Doctor. I won't change my mind. I belong there. With my family. Now, unless something on that chart of yours tells you otherwise, I'm walking out that door, doctor. I'm ready and I'm going home," Laura Spencer Webber told him, with a very determined look. Nothing and no one was going to keep her away from them. Not this clinic, not anyone. She knew what she wanted, what had been denied her for so long.
"Just make the arrangements. I want to spend my birthday with my family."
Dante stood in front of the door, its wood covered with a massive wreath that was decorated with red bows and silver ornaments. He was afraid to knock, worried that his fist against the door would cause the wreath to plunge to the ground at his feet.
He was shaking. Him, Dante Falconeri, Detective with the PCPD. How could a conversation with one woman make him quiver in his shoes and cause his stomach to churn? Maybe he should just turn around, find another way to fix the mess that he had created in his life. He was about to make his decision when the door was abruptly pulled inward.
"Oh, it's you!" Alice said, with arms crossed, her size equal to that of a quarterback and her stare intimidating, "You have a lot of nerve showing your face around here."
Dante looked back at the Quartermaine's maid, Big Alice, as everyone referred to her. She was a site to see, all nearly 6 ft 2 inches of her. She towered over Dante, staring down at him with a menacing look.
"Is Tracy home?" Dante asked, nervously.
"She's out back somewhere. Mr. Luke is here, I'm sure that he'll want to have a few words with you," Alice told Dante, opening the door wider and letting him pass, "You know, I like Mr. Luke very much. His family is like my family. That means whatever happens to Miss Lulu, I take personally. So, I got my eyes on you Dante Falconeri. You just remember that," Alice told him, pointing him to a spot in the Q hallway.
"Stay there. I'll go find Mr. Luke."
Dante stood in the hallway not sure if he was ready to face Lulu's father quite yet. He concentrated on the decorations of the balustrade, the white flowers and green ivy that covered the wood railing. He laughed recalling Thanksgiving just a few weeks earlier and how he almost didn't go.
He was bound and determined to watch football, drink beer and celebrate the holiday without family, but with Lulu by his side. She had other intentions. She completely played him, her tactics rivaling that of any good con man. She had played the "heart" card. It was impressive. He had tried not to cave, to stay strong and keep his bachelor integrity. But, dammit, she was hard to resist. And his brother, Michael, certainly hadn't backed him up one bit. Dante had tried to watch football, to ignore what his heart told him he should be doing. His eyes kept focusing on his phone, waiting for that text message that wasn't there. The one from Lulu.
Michael had practically pushed him out of the loft, the grin on his face falling as Dante had revealed that if he was crawling to the Q's and admitting that his holiday was empty without Lulu, then by golly Michael was crawling with him. And so, they had gone. It wasn't as bad as he thought, bringing Michael had seemed to smooth things over with Edward a little. The old man seemed to genuinely care about Michael, to enjoy his company.
The day had went really well, spending the holiday with Lulu's family and the Quartermaines and when the pizza arrived he had grinned, thinking how the Falconeri family would react to the Quartermaine's idea of dinner. He was happy that day. He saw his future, one with Lulu and her family. It had only taken a matter of days for all of that to change. For one woman's revenge, a past secret and a stupid decision on his part, to wreck every dream he had with Lulu.
"Oh, princess, I wish that I could make this decision for you," Luke told his daughter, lifting her chin, and tapping her nose with his finger, "I'm here for you. Whatever you need, " Luke told her pointing toward the bar and the locked cabinet.
"Thanks, Dad," Lulu grinned, "but, last time I checked, I don't smoke Cuban cigars and whiskey has never really been my poison," Lulu smiled, wiping her tears.
"Hey, cupcake, don't knock the healing affect of a true medicine. A good single malt can cure just about anything. Take it from your old man," Luke answered, with an assured grin. Now, if he could just figure out what Edward's new combination was. He had smelled those Cubans all morning. His mouth aching for the taste upon his lips. Alice, Luke surmised, she would know, he thought, as he heard a knock on the foyer doors.
"Mr. Luke, you have a visitor," Big Alice told him, smiling at Miss Lulu, "I think that Miss Tracy was looking for you in the Garden," Alice told her, as Lulu looked up in surprise.
"Really, I didn't think that she was here. Do you-"
"Go. If my popsicle is calling you, it must be something important. Besides, I've got a visitor," Luke answered, beaming, as he pushed Lulu out the garden doors.
"I wonder who it could be. Alice, you didn't tell anyone about that diamond ring I got for Tracy did you? That was our secret?"
"No, Mr. Luke. Your connection is safe. And it's not the entire PCPD at your doorstep. Just one."
"Alice, sweetheart, one cop is just as dangerous as the entire police department. There is no such thing as a good cop. Remember that. When it comes to the Spencer family, cops are like poison. They infiltrate our bloodlines, try to clean up our corruptness and wreak havoc with their ugh, idea of honesty and integrity. Now, who's at the door?"
"It's Miss Lulu's ex-retrobate of a boyfriend, Mr. Falconeri." Alice told him, as she ushered him out into the foyer, "You just let me know if you need any help, Mr. Luke."
"Dante? What a surprise?" Luke said, looking at his daughter's ex-boyfriend. He looked horrible, like he just crawled from the nearest bar. His hair was messed-up and his eyes rimmed with dark shadows. It appeared he hadn't slept in days. Good, the man felt guilty. Luke liked it, grinning. Maybe, he could salvage something out of this mess, after all.
"I'm just going to be in the other room," Alice warned Dante, "I can get my mask and then-"
"I got it, Alice. I'll be on my best behavior. Scout's honor," Dante replied, as Alice raised an eyebrow.
"Somehow, I get the feeling you were never a boy scout, Mr. Falconeri," Alice fired back, walking into the living room and closing the doors.
"How about we take this to the den?" Luke told Dante, leading him away from the living room and closing the door behind them, after Dante had preceded him in.
"Mask?" Dante questioned Luke, after they were alone in the room.
"Oh, Alice. This whole maid thing is just a part-time gig. She's a professional mud wrestler. The Denominator," Luke answered, grinning.
"Double chicken wing," Dante replied, suddenly realizing what the term referred to, "Ok, then. Note to self, don't get on Alice's bad side."
"So, son, what brings you to the Q's? This is the last place I expected you to show your face. You got balls, I'll give you that!"
"Look, I know that after what happened with Lulu, you have every right to throw me out that door. Hell, to call Alice and have her do that chicken wing thing, but I love your daughter, Mr. Spencer. I may have kept my past with Brenda a secret, but my love for Lulu, that was never a lie. I do love her. More than any woman ever in my life."
"Then why the lies, Dante? Why not tell her about your past with Brenda? It was just in the past, right?" Luke questioned Dante, knowing that he would break his kneecaps if he thought for a second that the man was playing Lulu.
"My feelings for Brenda are in no way romantic, Mr. Spencer. She's like a sister to me," Dante told him, as Luke raised an eyebrow.
"A sister? Like Brooklynn? Yeah, I know about that," Luke accused, as Dante returned a surprised look of his own.
"Then, you know that was completely out of my control. I was drugged. I would have never-"
"I know. You wouldn't be standing here, if I thought otherwise, Dante. I love my baby girl. She is the spitting image of my Laura. Her pain is my pain. Do you understand that, Dante? And don't call me, Mr. Spencer."
"Luke, I never meant to hurt Lulu. If I could turn back the clock, if I could have done things differently-"
"You'd do it. I know. I've been where you are standing, Dante. I know what keeping secrets can do to the ones you love. What I want to know is why you think I should lift a finger to help you? I'm not sure that you are worthy enough for my cupcake. And what the hell kind of secret could Brenda Barrett have to make you lie?"
"Lie? You know," Dante replied, surprised that Luke could see through the lie.
"Son, I used to work for the WSB. I'm a trained professional AND a con man. I can see a badly formed lie from miles away."
"You can't tell anyone. Not even, Lulu. It's too dangerous. Every lie that I've told, it has been for her. No matter how deceitful and painful it seemed."
"I'm listening," Luke told him, moving to the bar and pouring a single malt whiskey.
"So, then you know, Brenda and I were not lovers. I never slept with her. It was a lie designed to protect the secret. The act that we had done three years ago."
"This has something to do with the Balkan?" Luke asked, handing Dante a glass of whiskey, and taking a sip of his own.
"It has everything to do with the Balkan," Dante answered, taking a swig of the whiskey for fortitude, "Three years ago I was assigned to guard Brenda. I was a rookie cop, as green as they come. I had no idea what we were up against. The sacrifices that I would have to make. The fall-out that would ensue if any of it was ever discovered. Hell, I didn't even know everything that Brenda had done that night."
"The night the Balkan's son died?" Luke asked.
"How did you know about Alexander?" Dante questioned, curiously.
"Sonny told me. Apparently, Brenda confided in him. Why didn't she tell him everything, if it's all so innocent as you claim?"
"Because she was protecting, Sonny. It's true. Alexander was killed in that alley. He ambushed us, got the jump on me. I'd be dead if Brenda hadn't killed him. I owed her for that. I didn't know who he was, what his father was. When Brenda told me, when I found out that she was-"
"That she was what?" Luke asked, his curiosity peaked.
"Alice, I thought that you said that Tracy was in the garden," Lulu told her, entering the living room through the garden doors.
"Did I? Maybe she is speaking with cook. I'll just go check. You stay here," Alice answered, motioning for Lulu to stay put.
"I'll go find her. Besides, Cook likes me," Lulu replied, as Alice's hand reached toward her, halting her progress toward the door.
"Miss Lulu, I really think that it would be best, if you just stayed here," Alice told her, as Lulu pushed past her and opened the foyer doors. Alice was relieved to find the hallway empty, no sign of either Mr. Luke or Lulu's ex-boyfriend.
"See, no Tracy," Alice said, trying to usher Lulu back into the living room.
"You said that she was with cook. I'll just-" Lulu was about to finish her sentence, when she heard voices from the den, her ears perking up, as she heard her father's voice.
"Maybe she is in with my Dad," Lulu thought, reaching for the doors, as Alice nearly wrenched the door from her hands.
"Miss Lulu," she shouted, loud enough for the entire house to hear, "I really don't think-"
"Alice, I don't know what is going on here, but I'm going in," Lulu told her, seriously thinking that Alice was spending too much time mud wrestling and perhaps that mask of hers she wore was just a tad too tight. She opened the doors and saw Luke inside.
"Cupcake, I was just about to come find you," Luke exclaimed, as Lulu smiled in his direction. She turned toward his guest and the look of welcome fell from her face.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Lulu told Dante, revealing every bit of her pain for him to see.
"Lulu, I-" Dante started to say, as Lulu interrupted him.
"I think that I hear Tracy calling. I'll just see-" Luke said retreating from the room, completely invisible to the two people in the room, their eyes only focused on each other.
"I don't want to hear it, Dante. No more lies. I told you. We are over. Why can't you just leave it at that? I don't want to see you. Can't you respect that?"
"I know you love me. I can feel it when you step in the room, Lulu. I won't give up on us. I can't. I need you, baby," Dante implored, his heart open on his sleeve.
"You need me. Now, you tell me that. Where was this revelation when I asked you over and over about you and Brenda? You lied to my face, Dante. You swore to me that there was nothing between you and Brenda. That she didn't even remember you. One lie after another, Dante. I'm just supposed to snap my fingers and forget all of that ever happened, right? That your lies are justified, because you suddenly find that you NEED me."
"Lulu, I love you, baby. I do. I'm so sorry. I wish that I could tell you more. I need you to trust me, baby. Please, after everything that we've been through, please tell me that you understand, that you believe me. It's you I want."
"Me? If you wanted me, Dante. If you loved me, as much as you say you do, we wouldn't be here. You would be honest with me. You would trust me. That's what you do when you love someone, Dante. I did that for you when you were undercover. I trusted you. I loved you so much that I turned my back on my family, on Sonny, on Carly. I did it because I believed in you, Dante. I loved you. When Sonny shot you and they told me that you probably wouldn't make it, I wanted to die, Dante. I couldn't see my life without you. I made a choice, right there and then, Dante. I was going to stand by you, no matter what, Dante."
"So, you're telling me that you changed your mind. That you're just giving up!" Dante shouted, afraid that he wasn't going to get a second chance with her.
"I didn't give up on us, Dante! You did that. With your lies, with the constant secrets, with Brenda!" Lulu accused, pointing her finger at Dante.
"Nothing is going on with me and Brenda!" Dante yelled back, his face contorted with anger, "I've told you that, over and over, Lulu. I love you. Only you!"
"Then what's the secret, Dante. If nothing is going on between you, then why are you spending so much time with her. Why do I feel like every time I turn around, she is there? Tell me. That's all I ever wanted, Dante. The truth."
"You want the truth," Dante told her, moving closer, so close that he could feel her tremble, could practically taste the softness of her lips, "You have to trust me first, Lulu. Just promise me-"
"It's a two-way street, Dante. How can you ask me to trust you, when you can't do the same for me? You say that she means nothing to you, but your actions Dante, they tell me something else. I don't know what to believe anymore," she told him, truthfully, as tears slipped from her eyes.
"Believe this, Lulu," Dante answered, pressing his lips to hers, a gentle kiss that revealed all of his emotions, baring his heart for her to see, "I love you, baby. I can't see my life without you in it."
"I love you, Dante. I do," she sobbed, pressing her lips against his, soft and final, "but sometimes love just isn't enough. If you can't trust me-"
"Dammit, Lulu, it's not that simple," Dante answered, turning and running his hands through his hair in frustration, "Do you think that I wanted to hide anything from you? I love you. I know what keeping secrets does. But, it wasn't mine to tell. It was her secret. How could I share with you how I met her and still keep my promise?"
"What promise, Dante? Why is it so important that you keep her secret? Did you love her? Is that what you are so afraid to tell me?"
"No, never. Lulu, I never felt for her what I feel for you. You believe that, don't you?" Dante begged, placing his hands on the sides of her face and drawing her near. Their noses touched and Lulu could hear each agonizing breath that broke free from his chest.
"But, you still lied to me. You still kept her secret. You decided that she was more important than me, the woman that you loved more than anything, right?" Lulu told him, breaking free from his grasp.
"Baby, we can work this out. We love each other. We need each other. I don't want to live a single day of my life without you in it. Tell me you feel the same?" Dante pleaded.
"I love you, Dante. But, unless you can be completely honest with me, lay every card you have out on the table, I can't. I won't. I love and respect myself too much to play second to anyone, especially Brenda. So, if, and when you decide that what we have is worth it. You know where to find me."