Chapter 2
The beginning, it seemed so long ago not a mere six months. From the first night he met her he felt a connection with her and it had only gotten stronger. Dante remembered the first time he saw Lulu at Jakes. She wanted Coleman to have another karaoke night for her friends Spinelli and Maxie. Her loyalty to her friends and the fact that she was gorgeous was the first thing that drew him to her. Their meeting had started out pretty wild considering two of her brothers had tried to beat the crap out of him. Lulu had ended up taking him to the hospital and he hadn't stopped trying to impress her since. She had a great sense of humor and he was never bored with her. Lulu laughed at his cheesy pick up lines and could give it right back to him. After that first meeting, he made sure that he ran into her often.
At the hospital carnival he knew that he was slowly cracking the shell she had put up. At the dunk a hunk, Lulu couldn't take her eyes off him. When Matt, her date, had to go back to work he knew that he had to make his move. They were having a good time at the carnival until Mr. Quartermaine had a heart attack and ran his car thru the barriers. Saving Morgan, getting hit by the car and almost having to have a new kidney was not his ideal of fun but at least it got Lulu to visit him. From their conversation a couple of nights later about love, he knew that Lulu was a very guarded person and winning her over would be a challenge; but it was a challenge he was up for. The next time Lulu visited him in the hospital she found his badge. He hated lying to her but he had to protect his cover. They ended up playing go fish and he knew he was a goner. He had never met anyone like her before.
Olivia stuck her head in the ICU door and said "Dante, you need to leave and get some rest."
"I'm not leaving Ma; not until she wakes up." a frightened Dante said.
Looking at her son's tear stained face; Olivia knew that no one could make him leave Lulu's side. "You love her don't you", asked Olivia coming into the room.
Nodding Dante said "I've never felt this way about anyone before Ma."
Smiling Olivia said "Lulu will be good for you; she won't take any of your crap."
Laughing, Dante said, "You're right about that. She is pretty good at giving it right back."
"Does Sonny know I'm a cop" Dante asked.
"No you're safe for right now but I don't know for how much longer. You know if you need anything; I'm here" his mother said.
"I know Ma, thanks" he said.
Laying his head on the bed beside Lulu he fell asleep thinking back on every minute they had spent together. Each one had just gotten better and better. She was so gorgeous at Maxie and Spinelli's wedding. The night she accidently drank the spike water at the photo shoot, she was so adorable stoned. When she had gotten trapped in the Zacharra basement looking for Carly he really thought he might loose her. He had been so afraid she was going to drown before Johnny could get back with the rescue crew and there would have been nothing he could have done to save her. When she remembered that she had overheard his conversation with Ronnie about being undercover and called him out on it; he knew that he couldn't lie to her anymore. He knew that would cause problems between them since Sonny was a close friend of the family.
Looking at the face of the man she loved Lulu softly called out Dante. He looked so tired bent over the side of the bed. When Lulu touched the side of his face, Dante came awake quickly.
"Hey you're awake. How are you feeling" a concerned Dante asked?
Patting the side of the bed, Lulu said "I would feel a lot better if you were here holding me. "
Grinning Dante said "I would love to but I think that bed is a little small and I don't want to hurt you."
Smiling weakly Lulu said "you could never hurt me and I really need to feel your arms around me."
Dante was glad that the hospital bed had rails on it or they would have ended up in the floor.
"So what happened after I passed out" asked Lulu?
"After you were shot, your father, Jason and Sonny showed up, shot Joey and his goons and brought us to the hospital". Kissing Lulu lightly on the forehead Dante asked her "why did you run in front of me?"
"I love you Dante Falconeri and I didn't want to live without you" a grinning Lulu said.
"I love you too Lulu Spencer but never ever do that to me again; you scared 10 years off my life."
They fell to sleep wrapped in each others arms. They had the rest of their lives to figure out their future.
Robin and Patrick came into the ICU to check on Lulu and found her and Dominic. Laughing Robin said "I think Lulu has found the best medicine she needs."